Ultrastructural changes in the principal cells of epididymis of adult rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) after castration and androgen replacement therapy.
The epididymal epithelium from adult castrated and androgen supplemented, castrated rhesus monkeys was examined with transmission electron microscope. Ninety days after bilateral castration the tubular diameter of all the regions of the epididymis, viz. the initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda portions of epididymis was reduced and was accompanied by a drop in cell size. There was a marked decrease in the number and size of microvilli on the luminal surface. The invaginations of apical membrane into the cell cytoplasm became less prominent. There was a reduction in the amount of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex. Mitochondria accumulated in the apical cytoplasm. Several vacuoles often associated with lipofuscin pigment granules were common in the cytoplasm. These findings suggest a reduction in both the absorptive and secretory functions of the principal cells. Following androgen replacement therapy for 30 days in monkeys that were castrated 60 days earlier there was a recovery of structural features in the epithelium to near normal state.
Ratna Kumar
B V
BV
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Setty
B S
BS
Shipstone
A C
AC
D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D013739:Testosterone