Evidence for innervation of the myoid cell in the human seminiferous tubule.
Although the existence of the seminiferous tubule contractions attributed to myoid cells is established, the control of the contractions is poorly understood. Recently, we have suggested the possible neural control mechanism for contractility of the human seminiferous tubule. In an effort to identify the nerve supply to the myoid cells in the human seminiferous tubules, we studied the paraffin sections of biopsied testicular specimens using a protein silver impregnation technique (Bodian's method). Here we demonstrate evidence for the presence of nerve fibers close to the myoid cells. It is highly suggested that contraction of the human seminiferous tubule may play an important role in the transport of spermatozoa, and neurohumoral regulatory mechanism may partly exist in this connection.
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D013737:Testis / Q000294:innervation*