Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Direct visualization of contractile proteins in peritubular cells of the guinea-pig testis using antibodies against highly purified actin and myosin

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Antibodies against actin and myosin from smooth muscle, which may react with contractile elements from both muscular and muscle-like cells, were applied to fresh frozen sections of adult guinea-pig testis. Sections stained with an antibody against pectoralis (striated) muscle myosin or with non-immune globulin were used for controls. Peritubular cells of the lamina propria surrounding seminiferous tubulus contained large amounts of actin and myosin as judged by the intensity of immunofluorescence. Sertoli cells did not stain with the antibodies. Our results support the concept of peritubular cells being the critical force for the contractility of seminiferous tubules.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Böck, P., Breitenecker, G., Lunglmayr, G.: Kontraktile Fibroblasten (Myofibroblasten) in der Lamina propria der Hodenkanälchen vom Menschen. Z. Zellforsch. 133, 519–527 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgos, M.H., Vitale-Calpe, R., Aoki, A.: Fine structure of the testis and its functional significance. In: The testis (Johnson, Comes and Vandenmark, eds.), pp. 451–649. New York and London: Academic Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Clermont, Y.: Contractile elements in the limiting membrane of seminiferous tubules of the rat. Exp. Cell Res. 15, 438–440 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierichs, R., Wrobel, K.H.: Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den peritubulären Zellen des Schweinehodens während der postnatalen Entwicklung. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 143, 49–64 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett, D.W., Heidger, P.M., Leak, L.V.: Lymph vascular system of the testis as revealed by electron microscope. J. Reprod. Fertil. 19, 109–119 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gröschel-Stewart, U., Ceurremans, S., Lehr, I., Mahlmeister, C., Paar, E.: Production of specific antibodies to contractile proteins, and their use in immunofluorescence microscopy. II. Speciesspecific and species-non-specific antibodies to smooth and striated chicken muscle actin. Histochemistry. 50, 271–279 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gröschel-Stewart. U., Schreiber, J., Mahlmeister, Chr., Weber, K.: Production of specific antobodies to contractile proteins, and their use in immunofluorescence microscopy. I. Antibodies to smooth and striated chicken muscle myosin. Histochemistry 46, 229–236 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovatta, O.: Effect of androgens and antiandrogens on the development of the myoid cells of the rat seminiferous tubules (organ culture). Z. Zellforsch. 131, 199–308 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacy, D., Rotblat, J.: Study of normal and irridiated boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules of the rat. Exp. Cell Res. 21, 49–70 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Puchtler, H., Waldrop, F.S., Meloan, S.N., Branch, B.W.: Myoid fibrils in epithelial cells: studies of intestine, bibiary and pancreatic pathways, trachea, brochi, and testis. Histochemistry 44, 105–118 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roosen-Runge, E.C.: Motions of the seminiferous tubules of rat and dog. Anat. Rec., Suppl. 153, 108, 413 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M.H.: The fine structure and development of the peritubular contractile cell component in the seminiferous tubule of the mouse. Amer. J. Anat. 121, 523–558 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M.H., Long, I.R.: Contractile cells in human seminiferous tubules. Science 153, 1271–1273 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rostgaard, J., Kristensen, B.I., Nielsen, L.E.: Electron microscopy of filaments in the basal part of rat kidney tubule cells, and their in situ interaction with heavy meromyosin. Z. Zellforsch. 132, 497–521 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Unsicker, K.: Contractile filamentous structures in Sertoli cells of the Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca)? Experientia (Basel) 30, 272–273 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Unsicker, K., Burnstock, G.: Myoid cells in the peritubular tissue (Lamina propria) of the reptilian testis. Cell Tiss. Res. 163, 545–560 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Technische Hochschule, Schnittspahnstraße 3, D-6100, Darmastadt, Federal Republic Germany

    U. Gröschel-Stewart & K. Unsicker

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Kiel, D-2300, Kiel, Federal Republic Germany

    U. Gröschel-Stewart & K. Unsicker

Authors
  1. U. Gröschel-Stewart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Unsicker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gröschel-Stewart, U., Unsicker, K. Direct visualization of contractile proteins in peritubular cells of the guinea-pig testis using antibodies against highly purified actin and myosin. Histochemistry 51, 315–319 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00494367

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00494367

Keywords

Search

Navigation