title: Ultrastructure of Sertoli cells in cryptorchid goats.
abstract: Sertoli cells of intra-abdominal testes from 25 naturally occurring, unilaterally cryptorchid, West African pygmy goats between the ages of 1-30 months were morphologically examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Ultrastructurally, Sertoli cells in the intra-abdominal testes from 1-month-old goats were columnar and contained ovoid nuclei. The cytoplasm depicted clusters of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae (RER). In 3- to 4-month-old animals nucleolonemas of the Sertoli cells were associated with vesicles; the cytoplasm contained RER and areas of whorls of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. An abundance of lipid droplets was accompanied by lipofuscin granules in the cytoplasm. In 6- to 8-month-old goats RER cisternae presented circular or irregular profiles in the cells with an augmentation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules. In 12- to 15-month-old animals intercellular spaces in the seminiferous epithelium exhibited focal expansions. Nuclear profiles of the Sertoli cells were irregular. In 24- to 30-month-old animals the Sertoli cells were in an advanced stage of degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ezeasor
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure*