Effect of graded doses of ionizing radiation on the human testis.

PIP: A portable unit was developed to provide uniform irradiation of the human testes. The device had built-in radiological protection and provided a dosage independent of the subject geometry, uniform to within +or- 5%. Single doses, between 8-600 rad were administered to the testes of human subjects. Observations were made both before and following irradiation. Parameters evaluated included sperm concentration, motility and morphology, seminal fluid volume, plasma and urinary gonadotropin and testosterone levels, urinary estrogens, and comparison of testicular biopsies taken before and after irradiation in the same subject. Dose-response relationships and recovery times were determined for each dose range studied.^ieng

Fine structure of muscle cells of the human testicular capsule: basis of testicular contractions.

Electron micrographs of human testicular capsule reveal large numbers of branching smooth muscle cells coursing through collagenous tissue of the tunica albuginea. These cells have subcellular morphology characteristic of smooth muscle cells, and they associate with one another through areas of close contact. These are the contractile cells responsible for spontaneous contractions of the human testicular capsule-contractions that may be important in transporting nonmotile sperm out of the testis.