Cell counting and three-dimensional reconstruction to identify a cellular wave in human spermatogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To collect quantitative and stereologic data on the main cell types represented in the seminiferous tubule in order to produce a three-dimensional representation of the morphologic events of normal cell production and maturation.


METHODS
Three-dimensional reconstruction and differential cell counting were performed on serial sections of normal testicular tissue from normal young men through image analysis and computer-based rendering.


RESULTS
Peculiar periodicity in the total number of tubular cells considered along the sequence of serial sections was recognized. Also, consensual periodicity pertaining to each cell type was recognized. Adjacent high cellularity and low cellularity segments included a fairly constant mixture of cell types considered.


CONCLUSIONS
A newly defined cellular wave, composed of regular alternations of high and low cellularity segments, was identified in the normal human seminiferous tubule.
Zannini
C
C
Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Genoa, Italy.
Turchetti
S
S
Guarch
R
R
Buffa
D
D
Pesce
C
C
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology