Intercellular bridges between megalospermatocytes in the human testis.
The occurrence of intercellular bridges connecting megalospermatocytes in the human testis has been documented by means of light and electron microscopy. Thereby, the clonal character of this special form of male germ cell degeneration has been substantiated. In the course of the cellular degeneration, the intercellular bridges themselves enter a degenerative process. This process, involving the invagination and subsequent internalization of the bridge into the cytoplasm of one of the megalospermatocytes concerned, finally leads to disconnection of the cells and thus to the termination of the former clonal condition. Several clones of megalospermatocytes include additional cells which, while being bridge-connected to typical megalospermatocytes, exhibit a considerably different but likewise degenerative morphology. The cause of this occasionally occurring intraclonal heterogeneity of the megalospermatocyte morphology is discussed.
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Anatomisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002999:Clone Cells; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*