Skip to main content
Log in

Postnatal formation of the Blood-Testis Barrier in the rat with special reference to the initiation of meiosis

  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Postnatal formation of the Blood-Testis Barrier (BTB) in the rat was studied by either fixation in hypertonic fixative or employing lanthanum tracer. After 15 days of age, meiosis has reached different stages of spermatogenesis in differnt zones of the seminiferous cords. Only in those parts where germ cells are in the pachytene stage of meiosis do Sertoli cells form an effective barrier or tight compartment. Between 16 and 19 days of age, final formation of the BTB, which is to be found in the adult rat testis, occurs by zygotene and then leptotene stages successively entering the tight compartment. Thus, formation of a BTB by Sertoli cells does not occur synchronously along the length of the seminiferous cord but in accordance with the stage of meiosis of the associated germ cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Camatini M, Franchi E, de Curtis I, Analli G, Masera G (1982) Chemotherapy does not affect the development of Inter-Sertoli junctions in childhood leukaemia. Anat Rec 203:353–363

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clermont Y, Bustos-Obregon E (1968) Re-examination of spermatogonial renewal in the rat by means of seminiferous tubules mounted in toto. Am J Anat 122:237–248

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Connell CJ (1980) Blood-testis barrier formation and the initiation of meiosis in the dog. In: Steinberger A, Steinberger E (eds) Testicular development, structure, and function. Raven Press New York, 71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett DW, Aoki A, Gilula NB (1975) Ultrastructure and experimental studies on the seminiferous epithelium. Proc 13th Gunma Symp Endocrinol I-4, Maebashi (abstract)

  • Hatier R, Grignon G (1980) Ultrastructural study of Sertoli cells in rat seminiferous tubules during intrauterine life and the postnatal period. Anat Embryol 160:11–27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer R, Posalaky Z, Mc Ginley D (1977) Intercellular junction development in maturing rat seminiferous tubules. J Ultrastruct Res 61:271–283

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nagano T, Okumura K (1973) Fine structural changes of allergic aspermatogenesis in the ginea pig. I. The similarity in the initial changes induced by passive transfer of antitestis serum and by immunization with testicular tissue. Virch Arch (Cell Pathol) 14:223–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagano T, Suzuki F (1976) The postnatal development of junctional complexes of the mouse Sertoli cells as revealed by freeze-fracture. Anat Rec 185:403–418

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Rand MG, Romrell LJ (1977) Appearance of cell surface auto- and isoantigens during spermatogenesis in the rabbit. Dev Biol 55:346–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell L (1977) Movement of spermatocytes from the basal to the adluminal compartment of the rat testis. Am J Anat 148:313–328

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tung PS, Fritz IV (1978) Specific surface antigens on rat pachytene spermatocytes and successive classes of germinal cells. Dev Biol 64:297–315

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitale R, Fawcett DW, Dym M (1973) The normal development of the blood-testis barrier and the effects of clomiphene and estrogen treatment. Anat Rec:333–344

  • Waites GMH, Gladwell RT (1982) Physiological significance of fluid secretion in the testis and blood-testis barrier. Physiol Rev 62:624–671

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bergmann, M., Dierichs, R. Postnatal formation of the Blood-Testis Barrier in the rat with special reference to the initiation of meiosis. Anat Embryol 168, 269–275 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315821

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315821

Key words

Navigation