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PubMedDate not supplied

[Scanning electron and light microscopic studies of the surface epithelium of the rete testis and epididymis of the boar. I. Rete testis and efferent ducts].

The use of the scanning electron microscope gave a three dimensional representation of the epithelial surface. Additionally, light microscopy revealed the representative structure of the epithelium. The rete testis showed a single layer of cubic epithelial cells. Short and dense microvilli were found on the surface. Sporadically a single, cilia-like structure was recognized. An extratesticular rete testis was identified. The flowing transition of the epithelium between the rete testis and the efferent ductuli occurred at different levels, so that both kinds of epithelial structures were recognized in the same area. The efferent ductuli were composed of a single columnar epithelium consisting of two cell types, principal cells and ciliated cells. The ciliated cells were recognized by their cilia protruding into the lumen. The principal cells showed microvilli on their surface and bleblike apical protrusions which erupt into the lumen.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Induction of meiosis in fetal mouse testis in vitro by rete testis tissue from pubertal mice and bulls.

To test whether a meiosis-inducing substance (MIS) is responsible for the induction of meiosis in the testis at puberty, pubertal mouse rete testis was grown with (1) fetal undifferentiated mouse testis attached to the other side of a filter and (2) the used medium obtained from culture of the rete testis of a pubertal bull for 2 days. In both systems meiosis was induced in the fetal testis showing that MIS is not species specific. No meiosis-preventing effect was seen and it is concluded that meiosis in the testis is triggered at puberty as a result of the activity of the MIS concomitant with decreased activity of the meiosis-preventing substance.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Microscopic innervation of the spermatic ducts and the testis. III: Tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis].

The cholinesterase activity and ultrastructural characteristics of the nerves in tubuli seminiferi recti, rete testis and ductuli efferentes testis have been studied in Wistar rats. The tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis are innervated by a dense network which has varicosities containing different types of synaptic vesicles. The nerve fibres are located between the smooth muscle cells and the fibroblasts, and under the epithelial basement membrane. Inside the ductuli efferentes testis, the nerves form perivascular, subepithelial and muscle plexuses. According to the positive reaction for cholinesterase as well as the characteristics of the synaptic vesicles, these structure have at least a double adrenergic-cholinergic innervation. Our results demonstrate that the nervous fibres in ductuli efferentes testis are more abundant than in tubuli seminiferi recti and rete testis. The role of the vegetative nervous system in the initial segments of the spermatic pathways is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Ultrastructure of metastatic rete testis adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare tumor. We describe the ultrastructural appearance of a retroperitoneal adenocarcinoma metastatic from the rete testis, and compare this appearance with that of normal human rete testis. Both normal rete epithelium and the tumor showed deep, narrow nuclear invaginations with apparent nuclear lobulation; small, pleomorphic, electron-dense, membrane-bound granules in the basal cytoplasm; lipid droplets in the apical cytoplasm; and distinctive bulbous cytoplasmic projections along the apical surfaces of the cells. In addition, more general features of glandular tissue were seen. Features notable for their absence were mucin granules, microvilli containing filamentous cores, glycocalyx, and glycocalyceal bodies. The ultrastructural appearance was sufficiently distinctive to suggest that, in the proper clinical context, electron microscopy may serve to support a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1979

Detection of anti-Müllerian activity in boar rete testis fluid.

Boar rete testis fluid was tested for its capacity to induce Müllerian regression in 14.5-day-old rat Müllerian ducts. Weak activity was present in crude RTF, but after gel filtration 5-fold concentration, greater activity was detected in 1 our of 7 pools of the eluted fractions. The biologically active fraction (mol. wt 160 000-310 000) coincided with the elution of authentic labelled anti-Müllerian hormone, obtained from bovine fetal testes. These results indicate that a small amount of anti-Müllerian hormone is still synthesized in post-natal life.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Adenocarcinoma of rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a very rare malignant neoplasm originating in the epithelium of the rete testis. Histologically, it appears as a papillary adenocarcinoma. The first case was reported in the literature in 1853 and since that time only 16 additional cases have been reported. This report represents the eighteenth case.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1979

Adenocarcinoma of rete testis.

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare tumor of the genital tract. An advanced case of adenocarcinoma thought to arise from the rete testis is presented. We believe this is the eighteenth reported case.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

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↗

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↗

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↗

PubMed1991

Rete testis hyperplasia with hyaline globule formation. A lesion simulating yolk sac tumor.

The presence of eosinophilic, hyaline globules in association with epithelial hyperplasia was noted in the rete testis of three patients with germ cell tumors. In the more florid examples, this proliferation formed a solid and microcystic pattern that, in association with the hyaline globules, mimicked a yolk sac tumor component. However, the bland cytologic features of the cells and the conformation to the configuration of the rete testis were keys to its reactive nature. A subsequent review of 48 testicular specimens containing well-defined areas of the rete testis showed hyaline globule formation in the rete testis or tubuli recti in 16 of 27 germ cell tumors, one of five other testicular tumors (four stromal tumors and one plasmacytoma), and none of 16 nonneoplastic cases. Many of the cases that had hyaline globules also showed epithelial hyperplasia. Further analysis demonstrated an incidence of rete testis invasion by neoplasm in cases that had hyaline globules, with or without epithelial hyperplasia, that was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than that seen in neoplastic cases lacking hyaline globules. We concluded that this pseudoneoplastic reaction developed secondary to invasion of the rete testis by tumor. Immunostains supported the nonneoplastic nature of the proliferative lesions and indicated that the globules represented various proteins that had been absorbed from the lumen of the rete testis by the epithelial-lining cells but not successfully secreted.

Albumins↗

PubMed1991

[Structure of the rete testis of the cat (Felis domestica, L)].

The rete testis of the cat consists of 3 parts: a septal or interlobular part; a mediastinal part and a tunical part. The septal part contains the septal or transitory tubuli recti and the tubuli recti. The transitory tubules are formed as a confluence of the seminiferous tubules at the apex of the testicular lobules and the tubuli recti. The mediastinal rete is formed of long, straight channels which increase in size and become more irregular and anastomotic below the tunica albuginea at the cranial extremity of the testis. The end is characterized as the tunical part of the rete testis and communicates with the extratesticular rete testis. The channels all parts of the rete are lined by simple cuboidal or columnar epithelium. These epithelial channels are supported by a connective tissue containing smooth muscle cells. The framework tissue of the rete is more conspicuous at the cranial extremity of the testis, with a mio-connective matrix organization.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonography revealing the accumulation of rete testis fluid in bull testicles.

Ultrasonography was used for diagnosing accumulation of rete testis fluid in live bulls. When 447 bulls of Ayrshire breed selected for artificial insemination were studied by ultrasonography, eleven were detected in which the ultrasonograms visualized accumulation of rete testis fluid in the testicles. In 7 bulls the accumulation (spermiostasis) was bilateral and in 4 unilateral. In only four out of 18 testicles, macroscopically epididymal cysts were seen after slaughter. At the age of 16 months four bulls with bilateral spermiostasis were azoospermic. When studied by ultrasonography, the rete testis of normal testicles was echogenic and narrow but in affected testicles anechogenic and wide. Nine of the affected bulls were sons of three fathers. We suggest that spermiostasis is hereditary in Ayrshire bulls and, as in the goat, is progressive by nature.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Acquired cystic transformation of the rete testis secondary to renal failure.

The histologic study of testicular specimens from 218 consecutive autopsies revealed a cystic transformation of the rete testis in 26 men. Serial sections of the testes, epididymides, and spermatic cords of these men were studied by light microscopy. In 15 cases, the rete testis dilation was caused by obstruction of the epididymis. In five cases, the dilation was due to obstruction of the intratesticular excretory ducts caused by varicocele. In the remaining six men, no evidence of obstructive processes was found. These six patients had been diagnosed with renal failure and underwent hemodialysis. The rete testis in these men showed dilated channels lined by a high columnar or pseudostratified epithelium. They contained spermatozoa, with a proteinaceous material and calcium oxalate crystals. The ductuli efferents showed eosinophilic granules in their epithelial cells and their lumen contained spermatids, spermatozoa, cell remnants, calcium oxalate crystals, and multinucleate giant cells. These rete testis lesions are similar to those previously reported in the kidney of hemodialyzed patients.

Calcium Oxalate↗

PubMed1975

Steroid entry into rete testis fluid and the blood-testis barrier.

Evidence that steroids enter rete testis fluid (RTF) from the blood at varying rates was obtained during i.v. infusions into rats. Testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were readily transferred into the fluid, whereas cholesterol was excluded. Between these extremes, the appearance of radioactivity in the RTF suggested the following order of entry rate: progesterone greater than pregnenolone greater than 5-alpha-reduced androgens greater than oestrogens greater than corticosteroids. Preliminary identification of metabolites in RTF and blood suggested that testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were transferred largely unchanged. Androstenedione and progesterone, however, were largely metabolized during transfer into the RTF, the former being transformed to testosterone. The results are used to discuss the nature of the blood-testis barrier to steroids and the source of androgens in the RTF.

Androgens↗