Summary
The rete testis of the bull is situated within an axial mediastinum and consists of approximately 30 longitudinally arranged, anastomosing rete channels. At the cranial testicular pole all rete channels empty into a common space, the area confluens reds, which is subdivided by small septa and narrow chordae retis. The area confluens always contains numerous spermatozoa and is connected with the bulbous initial portions of the efferent ductules by short, often tortuous rete tubules. Since the connection between rete and efferent ductules is situated within the tunica albuginea, the bovine excurrent duct system is not provided with an extratesticular rete as in many other mammals.
Straight testicular tubules merge from all directions to connect with superficial rete channels, but the inlets are not evenly distributed. In the periphery each straight tubule begins with a cup-like structure followed by a narrow stalk region and a heavily folded portion opening either immediately into a rete channel or into a tube-like lateral rete extension.
In close contiguity to the rete testis lie extremely coiled arterial portions connecting the centripetal and the centrifugal branches of the testicular artery. Since intrinsic musculature is scarcely developed in the mediastinum, and transport of rete content relies primarily on massage due to external pressure changes, the pulsatile blood flow through these coiled arteries may influence conveyance processes within the rete testis.
An intimate spatial association between area confluens reds and adjacent large, thin-walled lymph vessels may facilitate a transfer of androgens into the fluid of the rete testis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benoit M (1926) Recherches anatomiques, cytologiques et histologiques sur les voies excretices du testicule chez les Mammifères. Arch Anat Microsc Embryol 5:175–412
Burgos MH, Cavicchia JG, Einer-Jensen N (1979) Electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) of the rete testis in the monkey. Int J Androl 2:559–571
Bustos-Obregon E, Holstein AF (1976) The rete testis in man: Ultrastructural aspects. Cell Tissue Res 175:1–15
Cavicchia JC, Burgos MH (1977) Tridimensional reconstruction and histology of the intratesticular seminal pathway in the hamster. Anat Rec 187:1–10
Dym M (1976) The mammalian rete testis — a morphological examination. Anat Rec 186:493–524
Evans RW, Setchell BP (1978) The effect of rete testis fluid on the metabolism of testicular spermatozoa. J Reprod Fert 52:15–20
Ganjam VK, Amann RP (1976) Steroids in fluids and sperm entering and leaving the bovine epididymis, epididymal tissue and accessory sex gland secretions. Endocrinology 99:1618–1630
Hofmann R (1960) Die Gefäßarchitektur des Bullenhodens, zugleich ein Versuch ihrer funktionellen Deutung. Zentralbl Veterinärmed 7:59–93
Holstein AF (1968) Die glatte Muskulatur in der Tunica albuginea des Hodens und ihr Einfluß auf den Spermatozoentransport in den Nebenhoden. Anat Anz 121:103–108
Hundeiker M (1969) Untersuchungen zur Darstellung der Lymphgefäße im Hodenparenchym beim Stier mit der Injektionsmethode. Andrologie 1:113–117
Kohler T, Leiser R (1983) Blood vessels of the bovine chorioidea. Acta Anat 116:55–61
Lindner HR (1963) Partition of androgen between the lymph and venous blood of the testis in the ram. J Endocrinol 25:483–494
Orsi AM, Mombrum de Carvalho I, Moreira JE, Valente MM, Guazelli Filho J (1984) Morfologia de la red testicular en el caprino domestico (Capra hircus, L.). Zentralbl Veterinärmed C. Anat Histol Embryol 13:42–29
Osman DI (1978) The ultrastructure of the rete testis and its permeability barrier before and after efferent ductule ligation. Int J Androl 1:357–370
Osman DI, Plöen L (1978) The mammalian tubuli recti: Ultrastructural study. Anat Rec 192:1–18
Roosen-Runge EC (1961) The rete testis in the albino rat: Its structure, development and morphological significance. Acta Anat 45:1–30
Roosen-Runge EC, Holstein AF (1978) The human rete testis. Cell Tissue Res 189:409–433
Scheubeck M, Wrobel KH (1984) Eine einfache transportable Apparatur zur Durchführung von Perfusionsfixierungen. Mikroskopie 41:108–111
Setchell BP, Laurie MS, Flint APF, Heap RB (1983) Transport of free and conjugated steroids from the boar testis in lymph, venous blood and rete testis fluid. J Endocrinol 96:127–136
Suzuki F, Racey PA (1984) Light and electron microscopical observations on the male excurrent duct system of the common shrew (Sorex araneus). J Reprod Fert 70:419–428
Waites GMH (1980) Functional relationship of the mammalian testis and epididymis. Aust J Biol Sci 33:355–370
Wrobel KH, Sinowatz F, Kugler P (1978) Zur funktionellen Morphologie des Rete testis, der Tubuli recti und der Terminalsegmente der Tubuli seminiferi des geschlechtsreifen Rindes. Zentralbl Veterinärmed C: Anat Hist Embryol 7:320–335
Wrobel KH, Mademann R, Sinowatz F (1979) The lamina propria of the bovine seminiferous tubule. Cell Tissue Res 202:357–377
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Stiftung zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung an der Universität Bern
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hees, H., Wrobel, K.H., Kohler, T. et al. Spatial topography of the excurrent duct system in the bovine testis. Cell Tissue Res. 248, 143–151 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239975
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239975