Post-Natal Changes in the Morphology of Sertoli Cells in the Scrotal And Abdominal Testes of Unilaterally Cryptorchid Goats

Abstract

Sertoli cells of scrotal and intra-abdominal testes from 25 unilaterally cryptorchid West African dwarf goats between the ages of 1-30 months were examined by light and electron microscopy. In the scrotal testes, the major developmental changes included differentiation of Sertoli-to-Sertoli cell junctional specializations, alteration of cell shape due to proliferation of the spermatogenic cells, development of nucleolar vesicles, convolution of nuclear profiles and the profusion of SER. In the intra-abdominal testes, the first alteration was noted in the Sertoli cells of 3-4-month-old goats, which contained dense masses shown ultrastructurally to be clumped SER with narrow cisternae. In 6-8-month-old animals, further changes included atrophy of Golgi complex, dilatation of cisternae of RER, accumulation of lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules. Many of these organelles and inclusions were no longer obvious in the Sertoli cells of 12-15-month-old'goats; rather intracellular vacuoles and dilated intercellular spaces had become common. In the 24-30-month-old goats, the Sertoli cells contained mostly microfilaments and basally located mitochondria with circular cristae in dense matrices. The alterations in the architecture of Sertoli cells in the intra-abdominal testes imply Sertoli cell dysfunction. This, in tum, would contribute largely to the failure of spermatogenesis that characterizes cryptorchidism.