boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules of the camel [camelus dromedarius]: an ultrastructural study

ABSTRACT

The ultrastructural organization of the seminiferous tubules of the camel has been investigated using transmission microscopy. The boundary tissue comprised four distinct layers; 1] an inner non-cellular layer, made up of two amorphous lamellae of moderate electron density sandwitching a layer of collagenous fibrils; 2] an inner cellular layer comprising stacks of extremely long spindleishaped peritubular cells showing a considerable proportion of microfilaments and micropinocytotic vesicle, 3]- an outer fibrous layer containing bundles of collagenous fibrils filling the spaces between lymph and blood capillaries. The latter showed the existance of distinct gaps between their endothelial lining and they missed basal laminae of their own, 4]- an outer cellular layer made almost exclusively of attenuated fibrocytes with minimal fibrous content