title: Three-dimensional analysis of the atrophic process of rat seminiferous tubules after estradiol treatment.
abstract: Atrophic changes in the basal portion of the seminiferous tubules caused by daily injections of estradiol have been found by scanning electron microscopy disclosed after a digestion technique using collagenase and trypsin. In the control rat, the smooth basal portion of the epithelium was composed of polygonal Sertoli cells and reticularly-arranged ovoidal spermatogonia. After estradiol treatment, there appeared wavy furrows and ridges, and many folded micro-wrinkles in the complicated basal portion of the seminiferous tubules. The wavy furrows and ridges were repeatedly formed and appeared just like a cornice. These structures ran in an orderly manner perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubules. In contrast, many micro-wrinkles ran in parallel to the longitudinal axis. These two structures had a characteristically similar size and orderly arrangement. They are discussed in relation to the mechanism by which the seminiferous tubules shrink by injections of estradiol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol