Morphological characteristics of cells with apical nuclei in the initial segment of the adult rat epididymis

Abstract

The cytology of epithelial cells with apical nuclei in the initial segment of the rat epididymis was studied with the light and electron microscopes. Two types of cells were distinguished and were designated apical cells and narrow cells. The apical cells are more numerous than the narrow cells and closely resemble principal cells except for the location of the nucleus. They probably correspond to the apical cells of Reid and Cleland ('57) and may represent a variation of the principal cell. The narrow cells differ markedly from the apical cells in both light microscopic appearance and fine structure. Narrow cells strain intensely with toluidine blue and are characterized by a slender shape, many mitochodria with tubular cristae, and a large number of apical cup-shaped cytoplasmic vesicles. The possible relationship of narrow cells to other cell types is discussed.

Differential expression of cathepsins B and D in testis and epididymis of adult rats.

“…It is interesting to note that lysosomal heterogeneity also exists in the content of cathepsin B in kidney proximal tubule cells (Olbricht, 1992;Yokota and Kato, 1988 Tomomasa et al (1994). In contrast, immunostaining with cathepsin D revealed a reaction over apically located narrow cells of the initial segment and intermediate zone (Eble Sun and Flickinger, 1980). The presence of cathepsin D but not B within these cells suggests the degradation of specific proteins within their lysosomes.…”

La segmentation du canal épididymaire chez la souris : étude ultrastructurale

“…De plus, la nature et la localisation des différents types cellulaires répartis entre les cellules principales de l'épithélium varient selon les espèces (Hamilton, 1975 ;Ramos et Dym, 1977 ;Flickinger et al, 1978 ;Sun et Flickinger, 1980). Afin d'établir la correspondance entre les caractères cytologiques des diffé-rents types cellulaires et les portions histologiques de l'épididyme, une étude ultrastructurale systématique a été réalisée sur la longueur du canal chez la souris, espèce pour laquelle les données histologiques demeurent fragmentaires (Benoit, 1926 ;Allen et Slater, 1957 ;Barron et Mac Enery, 1966 ;Hamilton, 1972 ;Pavlok, 1974 (Killian et Chapman, 1980).…”

Co‐expression and interaction of cubilin and megalin in the adult male rat reproductive system

“…comprising about Il % of the ceUs in the former region but only just over 1% in the latter (Sun and Flickinger, 1980;Adamali and Hermo, 1996). Apical ceUs are goblet shaped, have an apicany-located round nucleus and do not contact the basement membrane (Adamali and Hermo, 1996;Hermo and Robaire, 2002).…”

“…Narrow cens Narrow cens are limited to the initial segment and intermediate zone (Sun and Flickinger, 1980;Adamali and Hermo, 1996). They make up about 3% of the ceUs in the initial segment and about 6% in the intermediate zone (Adamali and Hermo, 1996).…”

“…They make up about 3% of the ceUs in the initial segment and about 6% in the intermediate zone (Adamali and Hermo, 1996). They are characteristically narrower than the principal ceUs, have an apical nucleus, numerous apical endocytic vesicles and many mitochondria with tubular cristae (Sun and Flickinger, 1980). In addition to a distinct morphological appearance, narrow ceUs express a different set of proteins than their neighboring epithelial cens (Adamali and Hermo, 1996).…”