Monocytes and Mast Cells in the Limiting Membrane of Human Seminiferous Tubules

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Abstract
EM of testicular biopsies from 8 healthy adult individuals showed that the limiting membrane of the seminiferous tubules was composed of several layers of myoid cells separated from each other by connective tissue lamellae, leukocytes and mast cells. Although the leukocytes were seen in all connective tissue lamellae as well as in contact with the basal lamina subjacent to Sertoli and germinal cells, they were never found within the seminiferous epithelium itself. Therefore, under normal conditions, these leukocytes do not appear to be capable of crossing the basal lamina. Such cells had a large C- or S-shaped nucleus showing clumps of chromatin attached to the nuclear membrane. Their abundant cytoplasm contained a large juxtanuclear Golgi apparatus, a widely dispersed rough endoplasmic reticulum, occasional microtubules, bundles of fine filaments and some membrane delimited granules presumably lysosomal in nature. These granules were spherical, ovoid or dumbbell in shape and often showed a core of electron dense material which was separated from the delimiting membrane by a thin layer of low electron density. Based on their morphology, these leukocytes were identical to monocytes prepared for EM examination from the buffy coat of human sedimented blood. In addition to monocytes, although less frequent, mast cells were also seen within all connective tissue lamellae of the limiting membrane. They showed an abundance of characteristic granules containing scroll-like membranous profiles. Although the functional significance of monocytes and mast cells in the walls of seminiferous tubules remains obscure, these 2 cell types were regular components of the tubular wall in all biopsies examined.

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