The Sertoli-spermatid processes in the mouse: new cellular structure.
In addition to the known Sertoli-cell processes, processes of the mouse spermatid's cytoplasm are found to invaginate neighbouring spermatids. Surrounded by the adjacent Sertoli process, the spermatid processes form a "spermatid-Sertoli cell process". They are observed between spermatids at the same step or at different steps of their development and degenerate mostly at step 13 to 15 of spermiogenesis. Whether these structures are related to either spermatid exchanges or connections or participate to cytoplasm elimination is discussed.
Laboratoire d'Embryologie, U.F.R. Biomédicale des Saints-Pères, Paris, France.
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Segretain
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Decrossas
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure