title: Cytoplasmic filaments in fetal and neonatal pig testis.
abstract: Leydig cells in developing fetal pig testis contained during the fetal regressive phase large accumulations of intermediate filaments. Before and after this period these filaments were arranged in a criss-cross fashion. In the pig as well as in the dog testis these filaments have been characterized as vimentin. Within the vimentin aggregates occasionally a weak positive actin reaction was seen in pig but not in dog Leydig cells. Microfilaments were hardly observed. Most Sertoli cells contained a layer of actin microfilaments close to the basal cell membrane. In the lower cell compartment and around the nucleus (intermediate) vimentin filaments could be observed in a criss-cross configuration.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013552:Swine; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*