Histology of Male Reproductive System

HAPPY NEW YEAR-2017

Wedneday-04.01.2017
DR ARUN KUMAR.S.BILODI
Head of the unit in Anatomy
Lincoln university college.

Specific Objectives
At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
Identify the following structures in testis
Tunica albuginea, mediastinum testis, seminiferous tubule

Differentiate the following cells

Spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, spermatid,
spermatozoa, sertoli cells

Location of the Sertoli and Leydig cell

Differentiate seminal vesicle and prostate under LM
Differentiate the following structures under LM
Tubuli recti, rete testis, ductuli efferentes,
ductus epididymis, ductus deferens

Testis
Suspended within the
scrotum
Surrounded by:
Tunica vaginalis
Derived from peritoneum

Tunica albuginea
Dense fibroelastic CT
Thickens posteriorly to
form mediastinum testis
Fibrous septa divide each
testis into 250 lobules

Testis
Each lobule contains
Seminiferous tubules
Interstitial tissue

Seminiferous tubules

Fx: Produce spermatozoa

Consists of basal lamina and epithelium
Lined by stratified germinal epithelium
Epithelium consists of 2 distinct types of cells
Spermatogonic cells
Sertoli cells

H&E (x100)

PT stain
(medium
magnification)
Epithelium of
seminiferous
tubule covered by
myoid cells which
have
characteristics of
smooth muscle

Spermatogonic cells
Spermatogonic cells are
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Spermatogonia
Primary spermatocytes
Secondary spermatocytes
Spermatids
Spermatozoa

Arranged in several layers

Spermatogenesis
Sequence of progressive differentiation of
spermatogonia into spermatozoa

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogonic cells
1. Spermatogonia
Lie within the basal
compartment
immediately adjacent to
the basal lamina
2 types of spermatogonia
Type A
Type B

Rounded in shape with

spherical distinct nucleoli

H & E stain High magnification

Spermatogonic cells
2. Primary spermatocytes
Resemble type B
spermatogonia
Larger in size, bigger nuclei
and thicker chromatin
Enter meiosis to produce 2
spermatocyte.
Cytokinesis is incomplete
and 2 daughter cells remain
connected by a bridge of
cytoplasm

H & E stain High magnification

Spermatogonic cells
3. Secondary
spermatocytes
About half size of the 1
spermatocytes
Short-lived
Divide quickly to
produce spermatids

H & E stain High magnification

Spermatogonic cells
4. Spermatid
Spherical in shape
with dark nuclei
Diameter 6m
Lie close to the lumen
Undergo
spermiogenesis to
become spermatozoa

H & E stain High magnification

Spermatogonic cells
5. Spermatozoa
Sperm heads usually associated with the
apical cytoplasm of Sertoli cells
Sperm heads are densely stained and tails
project into the lumen

Spermatogonic cells
Mature spermatozoa consists of
Head
Consists of nucleus
Acrosomal cap covers its anterior 2/3

Neck
Constriction behind the head

Body / midpiece
Consists of mitochondria

Tail

Sertoli cells

Supporting cells
Between the germ cells
Tall and pillar-like cell
Oval nucleus with definite
nucleoulus
Cytoplasm is pale
The outline in irregular with
the heads of maturing
spermatozoa lie within the
deep recesses of the
cytoplasm

H&E stain (High magnification)

Interstitial tissue

Leydig cell
Large polyhedral cells
Contains large nuclei and a distinct nucleoli
The cytoplasm contains numerous lipid droplets
which appear as vacuoles
Lies between the seminiferous tubules
Contains some collagenous fibres, blood,
lymphatic, vessels and nerves

PT Stain
(medium
magnification)
Arrowheads
showing
interstitial cells
(Leydig cells)

Blood-testis barrier
Physical barrier between the blood vessels and
the seminiferous tubules of the testes
The barrier formed by tight junctions that form
between adjacent sertoli cells near the basement
membrane of seminiferous tubule.
The barrier divides the seminiferous tubule into
Basal compartment
Adluminal compartment

Lumen of capillary

Genitals ducts
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Tubuli recti
Rete testis
Ductuli efferentes
Ductus epididymis
Ductus deferens
Ejaculatory duct

A. Tubuli recti

Straight tubule
At the apex of each testicular lobule
No spematogenic cells
Only Sertoli cells remain, forming a
simple columnar or cuboidal epithelium

B. Rete testis
Network of tubules within the
mediastinum testis
Lined by simple cuboidal or squamous
epithelium which rests on prominent
basal lamina
Surrounded by the highly vascular CT of
the mediastinum

C. Efferent Ductules
Lined by typical epithelium, ciliated
columnar epithelium
Only location in the genital system where
motile cilia are found
The cilia sweep the spermatozoa toward
the epididymis

H &E stain

D. Ductus epididymis
Duct is highly tortuous
Epithelial lining is pseudostratified columnar with
stereocilia
2 types of cells
Principal cells (tall columnar) contains stereocilia
Basal cells ( small rounded)

Lamina propria covers the epididymis and formed by the

thin fibrous layer
Muscularis mucosae
Muscle layer gradually thickens towards the tail of the
epididymis

Lumen contains spermatozoa

 H& E stain (x50)- Tubules in varies sections

 H&E (x200)- Lumens contain spermatozoa

PSH stain (Medium magnification)

E. Ductus deferens / Vas deferens

Thick wall
Mucosa
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia
Mucosa rises into short longitudinal folds which result in
stellate outline of the lumen

Submucosa is a fibrovascular layer.

Muscularis externa
Thick layer
Arranged in 3 layers: inner and outer longitudinal layers
and middle is circular layer

Adventitia- prominent layer of loose CT

 H&E (x100)- Thick muscular wall with narrow stellate

shape lumen

Trichrome stain

F. Ejaculatory duct
Pierces prostate gland to open into the
urethra
Lined by simple columnar or pseudostratified
epithelium with supporting wall of fibrous
connective tissue

Accessory glands
1. Seminal vesicle
2. Prostate gland
3. Bulbourethral glands

1. Seminal vesicle
Each vesicle is tortuous
Mucosa
Thrown into branching anastomosing folds, giving the
honeycombed compartmentalized appearance with no sperms
Epithelium : simple columnar or pseudostratified
Lamina propria: thin vascular layer rich in elastic fibres

Muscularis mucosa
Smooth muscle layer with thinner that outer longitudinal
muscle layers.

Adventitia
Fibroelastic layer with abundant blood vessels

Honeycombed
compartmentalized
appearance seminal
vesicle

H&E stain

H&E (x400)- Simple columnar or pseudostratified epithelium

2. Prostate gland
Covered by fibroelastic capsule
Fibromuscular stroma surrounds the secretory
compartment.
The secretory serous alveoli and tubules are very
irregular and vary in size and form.
The serous alveoli lined by simple cuboidal or simple
columnar or pseudostratified columnar epithelium
with infolding of epithelium.
Several alveoli contain secretory material and
aggregations of dead cells known as prostatic
concretions or corpora amylacea

Fibromuscular
stroma
surrounds the
secretory
compartment

PT stain (low magnification)

Several alveoli
contain
prostatic
concretions or
corpora
amylacea

H&E stain

C. Bulbourethral glands

Surrounded by a thin CT capsule

Septa pass into the gland dividing into lobules
Epithelium: Simple cuboidal or columnar
Cytoplasm contains mucigen droplets

Penis
Formed by 3 cylinders of erectile tissue
The paired corpora cavernosa
The single corpus spongiosum

All surrounded by a subcutaneous tissue that is

devoid of fat but contains many smooth muscle
fibres.
The corpora cavernosa surrounded by a thick
fibrous sheath, the tunica albuginea
The erectile tissue consists of numerous
cavernous spaces created by a network of
trabeculae

Corpus
spongiosum

H&E stain

Ref
1. Color.Textbook.of.Histology By Leslie P. Gartner 3rd edition
2. Atlas and textbook.of.Histology by Ross 6th edition
3.Junqueira - Basic Histology - Text and Atlas 11e
4. Bluehistology.com
5. Ross, M. Pawlina, W. Wheaters Functional Histology:
A Text and Atlas. Fifth Edition. .