Effect of age on the composition of seminiferous tubular boundary tissue and on the volume of each component in humans.
Seminiferous tubular boundary tissue thickens with age. The objective was to characterize the composition of boundary tissue in 16 young adult (20 to 29 years) and 18 older adult (51 to 84 years) men. Testes were perfused with glutaraldehyde, placed in osmium, and embedded in Epon 812 (Ladd Research Industries, Burlington, VT). Paired testicular weight, length of tubules, volume of seminiferous epithelium, and daily sperm production were significantly reduced in older men. Although the thickness of boundary tissue was greater (P less than 0.01) in older men, the volume of boundary tissue per man was similar between age groups. The percentages and volumes per man of boundary tissue myoid cells, collagen, microfibrils, and other components also were similar (P greater than 0.05) between age groups. This study confirms that age-related thickening of boundary tissue occurs without the new deposition (augmentation) of collagen or other extracellular components.
Johnson
L
L
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University, College Station 77843-4458.
Abdo
J G
JG
Petty
C S
CS
Neaves
W B
WB
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D003094:Collagen