The ultrastructure of testicular tumors in the dog: III. Sertoli cells and sertoli cell tumors and general conclusions

Sertoli Cell Tumour in a Cat

A Sertoli cell tumour occurred in a cryptorchid testis of a 1-year-old cat with no signs of feminization. The tumour showed intratubular growth without interstitial infiltration and the neoplastic cells appeared polymorphous and vacuolated. Mitotic figures were rare. The diagnosis was based on histopathological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of the tumour cells.

Juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the infant testis: case report with ultrastructural observations

This report describes the light-microscopic and ultrastructural features of a juvenile granulosa cell tumor of infant testis. Microscopic examination revealed a macrofollicular patterns simulating the preovulatory Graafian follicle and the juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Ultrastructure confirmed three cell types: granulosa, theca interna, and externa, with occasional luteinized cells lacking crystalloids of Reinke. Charcot-Bottcher crystalloids were not detected, though rare cells contained a complex arrangement of filaments. An ultrastructural comparison was carried out with infant testes (2 cases), preovulatory Graafian follicle (1 case), juvenile granulosa cell tumor of ovary, adult granulosa cell tumor of ovary, and adult Sertoli cell tumor of testis and ovary. Ultrastructural similarities were noted between the present case and primitive Sertoli cells, preovulatory granulosa cells, and juvenile granulosa cell tumor of ovary. This may reflect the common histogenesis of Sertoli/granulosa cells from the common specialized gonadal stroma.

A canine testicular tumor resembling gonadoblastoma

A tumor of the left testicle resembling a gonadoblastoma was an incidental finding at necropsy in a 15-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog. This neoplasm was characterized by discrete intratubular aggregates of intimately mixed germ cells and smaller cells resembling Sertoli cells. The latter small cells often formed a single cell layer surrounding the margin of eosinophilic, PAS-positive Call-Exner-like bodies. Electron microscopy showed these bodies to be composed of whorled laminae resembling basement membrane.