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PubMed1982

The rete testis of birds.

The rete testis in the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus), Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) and drake (Anas platyrhynchos) was studied histologically and with both the scanning and transmission electron microscopes. All the birds have rete epithelial cells varying between squamous and high cuboidal. A cilium-like structure projects from the luminal portion of most cells into the rete lumen, and the outline of the cells varies from polygonal to elongate. Sparse, stubby microvilli were concentrated on the cell borders. Ultrastructural features suggest only moderate secretory and absorptive activities in the cells. The rete testis of birds is amply supplied with blood as well as lymphatic vessels and nerves. Intraepithelial lymphocytes form part of the rete epithelium, and macrophages are present in large numbers in the rete lumen of the domestic fowl and drake and, to a lesser degree, also in the rete epithelium of the drake.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

The mammalian rete testis--a morphological examination.

The fine structure of the rete testis was examined in several primates, domestic animals and rodents. The rete testis consists of a series of interconnected wide channels lined with a simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium, resting on a thick basal lamina. Beneath the basal lamina dense bundles of collagen fibrils and a few blood vessels, lymphatics or nerve tissue are found. The epithelial cells are characterized by large, deeply indented nuclei, spherical or short rod-shaped mitochondria, supranuclear Golgi profiles, some cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes and numerous micropinocytotic vesicles in the ectoplasmic regions. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum, secretory granules, lysosomes or other types of dense bodies are rarely seen. The apical surface of the cells bears numerous microvilli and a single very long flagellum which is presumed to be motile. Ajoining lateral cell membranes exhibit a juxtaluminal tight junction, elaborate interdigitations and desmosomes. The basal plasma membrane is highly irregular greatly increasing its surface area of contact with the underlying interstitium. The nuclei of the rete epithelial cells contain pale-staining, spherical structure, 2 mum in diameter, composed of circularly oriented fine filaments. The significance of the nuclear structures remains unknown. Thorotrast was injected into the lumen of the hamster and rat rete testis and 30 minutes later the proximal portion of the excurrent duct system of the testis was prepared for electron microscopy. Whereas the ductuli efferentes and first part of the epididymis possessed numerous apical vesicles filled with the thorotrast, this electron opaque substance was rarely found in the epithelium of the rete testis. Thus, incorporation of particulate matter into the lining cells of the rete from its lumen is apparently less active than in the epithelium of the ductuli and epididymis. Vascularly introduced intercellular tracer compounds such as lanthanum nitrate or horseradish peroxidase did not enter the lumen of the rete testis from the interstitium. The tracer molecules appeared to be blocked by the juxtaluminal tight junction separating adjacent epithelial cells. This latter observation suggests that a blood-testis barrier exists at the level of the rete testis epithelium. Although physiological studies have indicated that the composition of fluid secreted in the seminiferous epithelium is considerably modified in the rete testis, the present morphological study does not provide additional evidence to support a secretory or absorptive function for this region of the excurrent duct system of the testis.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

The rete testis in man: ultrastructural aspects.

The ultrastructure of the normal human rete testis was analyzed. The rete testis cavities are irregularly shaped and contain virtually no spermatozoa. Smooth muscle cells often surround the cavities. In the epithelial lining, two cell types are distinguishable. Flat, dark cells exhibit numerous slender microvilli, and numerous apical and basal micro-vesicles. Prismatic, lighter cells have more cell organelles, mostly polarized towards a supranuclear position. Both cell types contain variable amounts of glycogen and fat, and an occasional cilium. All cells display intricate lateral cell surfaces that possess different cell-to-cell attachment devices. Intermediate cell types are frequently found. On a morphological basis, the epithelial cells seem to be involved in the release of substances into the lumen and probably also in transport towards the base. Connective tissue elements are found subjacent to the epithelium. Scattered among the fibrocytes are typical smooth muscle cells. Expansions of some smooth muscle cells are connected to the epithelial basement membrane by a network of microfibrillar materia. The smooth muscle cells may be involved in changing the shape of the rete testis channels, thus promoting the flux of the rete testis fluid. Different types of nerve fibre bundles are distinguished in the connective tissue of the rete testis which may correspond to autonomic and sensory nerves or sensory receptors.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Relationship between rete testis fluid secretion and testicular structure in the ram.

A rete testis cannulation technique was used to compare the secretion of rete testis fluid with the production of spermatozoa and histological testicular parameters in Ile-de-France rams. Thirteen testes were cannulated and rete testis fluid variables were compared to histological variables of the same testis. The rate of flow of rete testis fluid was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05%) correlated with testicular size, the area of the walls of the seminiferous tubules and the volume of the Leydig cells. These two latter factors accounted for 66% of the variation in the flow of rete testis fluid.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Isolation and culture of ram rete testis epithelial cells: structural and biochemical characteristics.

Cultures of rete testis epithelial cell-enriched preparations from testes of adult rams have been investigated, and some of their properties have been determined. In monolayers, the cells form mosaic-like borders, and retain many ultrastructural features characteristic of rete epithelial cells in situ, including an indented nucleus with prominent heterochromatin clumps, short rod-shaped or round mitochondria that are easily distinguished from the elongated mitochondria of Sertoli cells, the presence of desmosomes, and few if any lipid droplets or vacuoles. Unlike Sertoli cell-enriched aggregates in culture, rete testis epithelial cell preparations do not form cytoplasmic extensions, and no associated germ cells are present. Rete cells in culture express cytokeratin and vimentin in the cytoskeleton, whereas Sertoli cells prepared from testes of adult rams contain vimentin but not cytokeratin. Both rete cells and Sertoli cells stain positively for laminin but not for fibronectin, Collagen Type I, or Collagen Type III. The rete cells synthesize and secrete several proteins into the culture medium, evident in gel electrophoresis patterns of radiolabeled proteins. This pattern is similar, but not identical, to that secreted by Sertoli cell-enriched preparations. Rete cells in culture in the presence of serum continue to undergo mitotic division, but Sertoli cells do not. A variety of criteria were employed to estimate the relative numbers of Sertoli cells present in the rete testis epithelial cell-enriched preparations from testes of adult rams, including morphological and ultrastructural differences between the two cell types, and the presence of desmosomal proteins and cytokeratin in rete cells but not in Sertoli cells. The relative number of fibroblast-like cells was determined by measuring the expression of fibronectin and Collagen Type I, and an immunocytochemical probe for the detection of Factor VIII was used to estimate the degree of contamination by vascular endothelial cells. Using these markers, we determined that the rete testis epithelial cell-enriched preparations were about 93% pure. Primary cultures under defined conditions contained relatively few Sertoli cells (0.4%), but were contaminated to a larger extent by fibroblast-like cells (approximately 4%) and by endothelial cells (about 3%). The possible functions of rete testis epithelial cells are discussed herein.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Structural analysis of clusterin and its subunits in ram rete testis fluid.

Clusterin is a protein present in the rete testis fluid of the ram that elicits aggregation of erythrocytes and Sertoli cells in vitro. In view of its possible biologic function in relation to cell-cell interaction in the testis, we isolated this protein from ram rete testis fluid using sequential high-performance liquid chromatography columns and performed a detailed physicochemical characterization. This protein consists of two molecular variants designated form I and form II clusterin. Each form of clusterin consists of two subunits with an apparent molecular weight of 40,000. It is of note that the two subunits have no homology in their N-terminal amino acid sequences. However, the N-terminal amino acid pairs of the two subunits derived for the two forms of clusterin are identical. Using o-phthalaldehyde to block the Lys residue at the fourth amino acid pair from the N-terminus which leaves the Pro residue free for subsequent Edman degradation, we have deduced the N-terminal sequence of each of the two subunits for form I clusterin. Comparison of the NH2-terminal sequences of the two subunits of clusterin with the release 10.0 of the protein sequence data base of the Protein Identification Resource indicated no homology between either of the subunits of clusterin and any of the known proteins in the data base. A highly specific radioimmunoassay developed for clusterin was used to measure its concentrations in the fluids of the rete testis and cauda epididymis. Since a significant amount of immunoreactive clusterin was found in serum, the protein was partially purified from this source by immunoaffinity chromatography. Immunoreactive serum clusterin was smaller than the testicular clusterin (Mr 37,000 vs 40,000), but both proteins share common epitopes as demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and immunoblots. However, serum clusterin does not possess the biologic activity of the testicular clusterin in that it does not elicit cell aggregation in vitro. It is of note that deglycosylation of testicular clusterin can also eliminate this in vitro biologic activity, suggesting that the serum clusterin might be a deglycosylated form of the testicular protein and the carbohydrate core plays an important role in determining the cell aggregation activity. Studies on the distribution of this protein in the reproductive compartment indicate that it is highly concentrated in the rete testis and the cauda epididymal fluids. This suggests that this protein might have some important functions in the reproductive tract.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

[Adenocarcinoma of rete testis].

We report a case of adenocarcinoma of rete testis in 64-year-old man. His first diagnosis was hydrocele of left testis, but aspiration cytology showed malignancy. The patient underwent left orchiectomy. The pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. The cancer was suspected to be arising from the duct of rete testis on the histological examination, and no other malignancy was found elsewhere in his body. However, he died at 10 months after the operation for lung metastasis. Adenocarcinoma of rete testis is one of the rarest malignancies. Only 25 cases have been reported since the first case was described by Feek and Hunter in 1945. This is the twenty-sixth case in the literature.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1988

Simple cyst of the rete testis.

We report a case of a simple cyst in the upper pole and connected to the mediastinum testis at the rete testis. The cyst appeared to arise from a dilated rete duct, and it was spherical, smooth-walled and filled with clear fluid. The epithelium was lined with a single layer of cuboidal or flattened cells, with no evidence of squamous differentiation.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is very rare. It is highly malignant with potential of early metastasis. We are reporting such a case occurring in a 34-year-old man who remains tumor-free 7 years after orchiectomy. Another 20 reported cases of such a tumor from the English literature are reviewed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare testicular tumour, which often presents late, with metastatic disease present in a significant proportion of patients. We record the clinicopathological findings in a man who presented with an apparently localized testicular tumour. He however went on to develop a rapidly progressive local recurrence and metastatic disease, despite primary radiotherapy. Detailed immunohistochemical examination was performed and we record positivity of this tumour for the recently developed markers HBME1 and thrombomodulin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1982

Papillary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis: a case report.

A papillary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis in a 67-year-old man is presented. The tumor was localized in the rete testis, showing no involvement of the adjacent testicular parenchyma or the epididymis. The tumor cells manifested a transition to the normal epithelial cells of the rete testis. The electron microscopic features of this tumor are compared with those of the normal epithelial cells of the rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed1983

Viability of ram testicular spermatozoa following cryopreservation in rete testis fluid.

Ram testicular spermatozoa, collected continuously from the cannulated testis, were frozen in rete testis fluid in straws using the cryoprotective agents egg yolk and glycerol. The effect of cryopreservation on the viability of the spermatozoa was assessed by studying their metabolism, morphology, ultrastructure, and radioiodination patterns. Freeze-thawing significantly depressed the respiration rate and glycolytic activity of testicular spermatozoa. Morphologically, there was little evidence of cryodamage in frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa. Except for some slightly corrugated acrosomes and a more loosely attached plasma membrane over the sperm head, frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa were indistinguishable from nonfrozen control spermatozoa. Surface radioiodination of frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa was highly selective and resulted in a labeling pattern similar to that of the nonfrozen controls. In contrast, the radiolabeling pattern of frozen-thawed electroejaculated spermatozoa was characterized by high background radioactivity and low selectivity. These results confirm previous suggestions that testicular spermatozoa have a greater low-temperature tolerance than do ejaculated spermatozoa and indicate that cryopreservation of immature testicular spermatozoa in rete testis fluid with added egg yolk and glycerol may be a useful approach to extend the availability of these cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Surgical technique to cannulate the rete testis of the goat.

A surgical technique was devised to collect rete testis fluid from 14 mature goats. The tubular portion of the extratesticular rete testis was cannulated where it penetrated the tunica albuginea of the testis under the center of the head of the epididymis. The tip of the cannula was sutured in place in the extratesticular rete testis and the opposite end was passed through the scrotum and into a plastic collection bottle. The bottle was glued to pillow ticking, which was sutured to the scrotum. Continuous flow of rete testis fluid occurred for 0 to 14 days and was usually terminated by a sperm clot in the cannula. The flow rate was 0.59 +/- 0.37 ml/hr.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Ultrasound appearances of the rete testis.

Improved technology enables better visualization of normal anatomical structures. The rete testis is now visible as an ill-defined echo-poor region at the testicular hilum, sometimes with arboriform projections into the parenchyma. In a retrospective review of 100 cases of non-inflamed testes, the rete testis was seen in 18%. The anatomy was confirmed by scanning post-mortem specimens in a waterbath, marking the echo-poor region and then studying the histology. The spectrum of ultrasound appearances of the normal rete testis is presented. The rete testis can be distinguished easily from pathology because the parenchyma remains otherwise homogeneous and normal in appearance.

Humans↗

PubMed1989

Nodular proliferation of calcifying connective tissue in the rete testis: a study of three cases.

We report the first description of a bilateral rete testis lesion. The lesion was found in three adult men with histories of myocardium infarct or hemorrhage. The histologic study of the rete testis in these men revealed nodular sessile or pediculate formations which protruded into the rete testis channels. These polypoid formations consisted of an axis of connective tissue covered by a flattened epithelium. The axis contained a variable number of fibroblasts, areas with fibrin-like material, and small to large calcium deposits. Inflammatory infiltrates were neither observed in the rete testis nor in the testicular parenchyma. The testicular pattern varied from seminiferous tubules with complete spermatogenesis (two cases) to tubules with Sertoli cells and a few spermatogonia, surrounded by a thickened tunica propia. The term "nodular proliferation of calcifying connective tissue in the rete testis" is proposed to designate this lesion.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Papillary adenocarcinoma of rete testis. Autopsy findings, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, and clinical correlations.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare neoplasm that usually occurs in men after the age of 60 and carries a variable prognosis. We report an occurrence of this tumor in a 91-year-old man who had been treated for 2 years for an hydrocele. At the time of diagnosis, metastases were not evident; and the patient was treated with local radiotherapy. The diagnosis of papillary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis was made on the basis of: (a) a transition from normal rete testis to atypical and neoplastic rete epithelium; (b) exclusion of primary germinal and nongerminal testicular tumors and spread from distant sources; and (c) electron-microscopic findings, histochemical and immunological studies, and autopsy findings supporting the diagnosis. This is the first reported case of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis that includes documentation of the tumor's metastatic pattern.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed1991

Adenomatous hyperplasia of the rete testis. A clinicopathologic study of nine cases.

Adenomatous hyperplasia of the rete testis is an uncommon lesion that has recently been described. Nine cases of adenomatous hyperplasia were identified in two institutions from 1980 to 1989. At diagnosis the nine patients ranged in age from 30 to 74 years (mean, 59 years; median, 66 years). Three patients presented with a grossly identifiable solid or cystic testicular hilar mass. In six cases adenomatous hyperplasia was an incidental microscopic finding--five from orchiectomy specimens and one from an autopsy specimen. Microscopically, the hyperplasia consisted of a tubulopapillary epithelial proliferation of rete testis. The lining cells were cuboidal to low columnar and lacked nuclear pleomorphism or mitotic figures. The involvement of the rete testis was predominantly diffuse. In seven cases the seminiferous tubules showed atrophic changes. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical (keratin, epithelial-membrane antigen: positive; vimentin, muscle-specific actin, desmin, and S-100: negative) studies done on one case showed similar features to those of nonhyperplastic rete testis epithelium. No patient with adenomatous hyperplasia showed local recurrence or metastasis. Possible pathogeneses include hormonal imbalance or stimulatory influence that remains as yet unidentified.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Papillary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Report of a case].

OBJECTIVES: Another case of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is described and the literature on this uncommon tumor type reviewed. METHODS/RESULTS: The clinical features, pathological findings and treatment of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis in a 72-year-old male are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare tumor type; few cases have been reported in the literature. Although treatment is primarily by surgery, recognition of new cases will provide further insight into this primary tumor of the rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗