ISSN:
1432-0878
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary This study describes the fine structure of the hamster seminal vesicle. Intact, sexually mature young and aged animals were used to obtain the results presented. The epithelium of the hamster seminal vesicle contains numerous large electron-dense structures, with a single limiting membrane, with many internal granules and, in the aged animals, myelin-like figures. Based on histochemical results presented in this study, and those of others, it is suggested that this material is a lipofuscin pigment. This substance is of special interest inasmuch as in the hamster seminal vesicle epithelium, pigment is a more sensitive indicator of circulating androgen than is, as in the case of the rat seminal vesicle, regression of cell height. It is possible that this pigment takes origin as breakdown products of mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. The relation of “pro-pigment granules” and lysosomes is discussed. Results indicate that pigment is formed at sites of increased catabolism in response to a biological insult to the cell.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00339446
