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Ultrastructure of the Testicular Interstitial Tissue of the Hagfish Eptatretus stouti
Author(s) -
Tsuneki Kazuhiko,
Gorbman Aubrey
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1977.tb00232.x
Subject(s) - hagfish , ultrastructure , biology , endoplasmic reticulum , sertoli cell , somatic cell , interstitial cell , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , medicine , endocrinology , spermatogenesis , vertebrate , biochemistry , gene
Ultrastructure of the somatic components of the testis of the Pacific hagfish was studied. Interstitial cells, equivalent to Leydig cells of higher vertebrates, containing smooth‐surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria with tubular cristae were found in the interstitial tissue, as well as leucocytes, fibroblasts and other cells of unknown role. Two kinds of somatic cells were observed in the testicular follicles: Sertoli cells and “stellate cells”. The significance of interstitial cells was discussed in relation to possible involvement in steroidogenesis.