Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of Possible Sperm Gland Emptying Mechanisms

Evidence for the innervation of sperm storage tubules in the oviduct of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

“…Other attempts to identify nerves or contractile elements associated with sperm storage tubules have been unsuccessful (Gilbert and Lake, 1963;Van Krey et al, 1967;Gilbert et al, 1968). Similarly, transmission electron microscopy (Schinder, 1967;Van Krey et al, 1967;Burke et al, 1972;Tingari and Lake, 1973;Schuppin et al, 1984;Bakst, 1987) failed to reveal the presence of nerve terminals in, or nerves coursing near, sperm storage tubules. Furthermore, no evidence has been obtained for the presence of smooth muscle, myoepithelial cells or nervous tissue elements within or adjacent to sperm storage tubules.…”

“…Although the sperm storage tubules have been the subject of numerous studies over the past four decades, the processes involved in sperm uptake into, maintenance within, and release from the sperm storage tubules remain unknown. Neither light microscopy (Fujii, 1963;Fujii and Tamura, 1963;Bobr et al, 1964;Van Krey et al, 1967;Gilbert et al, 1968;Bakst, 1987;Bakst et al, 1994) nor transmission electron microscopy (Schindler et al, 1967;Van Krey et al, 1967;Burke et al, 1972;Tingari and Lake, 1973;Schuppin et al, 1984) have revealed the presence of nerves, smooth muscle or myoepithelial cells associated with the sperm storage tubules. In the present study, contemporary immunocytochemical procedures, specific neurotoxin uptake and modes of light microscopy were used to re-evaluate the possible innervation of sperm storage tubules, and the presence of contractile elements within and around the epithelium of sperm storage tubules.…”

Evidence for the innervation of sperm storage tubules in the oviduct of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

“…Other attempts to identify nerves or contractile elements associated with sperm storage tubules have been unsuccessful (Gilbert and Lake, 1963;Van Krey et al, 1967;Gilbert et al, 1968). Similarly, transmission electron microscopy (Schinder, 1967;Van Krey et al, 1967;Burke et al, 1972;Tingari and Lake, 1973;Schuppin et al, 1984;Bakst, 1987) failed to reveal the presence of nerve terminals in, or nerves coursing near, sperm storage tubules. Furthermore, no evidence has been obtained for the presence of smooth muscle, myoepithelial cells or nervous tissue elements within or adjacent to sperm storage tubules.…”

“…Although the sperm storage tubules have been the subject of numerous studies over the past four decades, the processes involved in sperm uptake into, maintenance within, and release from the sperm storage tubules remain unknown. Neither light microscopy (Fujii, 1963;Fujii and Tamura, 1963;Bobr et al, 1964;Van Krey et al, 1967;Gilbert et al, 1968;Bakst, 1987;Bakst et al, 1994) nor transmission electron microscopy (Schindler et al, 1967;Van Krey et al, 1967;Burke et al, 1972;Tingari and Lake, 1973;Schuppin et al, 1984) have revealed the presence of nerves, smooth muscle or myoepithelial cells associated with the sperm storage tubules. In the present study, contemporary immunocytochemical procedures, specific neurotoxin uptake and modes of light microscopy were used to re-evaluate the possible innervation of sperm storage tubules, and the presence of contractile elements within and around the epithelium of sperm storage tubules.…”

Artificial Insemination in Poultry

“…These mechanisms likely involve the reversible suppression of sperm motility and metabolism, protection and repair of the sperm plasma membrane, uptake and storage of molecules to sustain sperm metabolism, and maintenance of the SST lumen by removing by-products of sperm metabolism and degraded sperm [32][33]. It is clear the SSTs generate a discrete environment to maintain sperm viability via the influx and efflux of compounds critical for sperm survival [25,34). While ultrastructural analysis has revealed only limited evidence of secretory activity [25], the identification of membrane-bound vesicles released from the apical tips of the SST epithelial cell microvilli suggests a role in the maintenance of resident sperm through lipid transfer [22,25,26,32,35,36].…”