Ultrastructure of the lamina propria of the human ductuli efferentes and ductus epididymidis

Enzymohistochemical and immunohistochemical study of the human efferent ducts

An enzymohistochemical and immunohistochemical study of the efferent ducts was performed in normal adult men. The epithelium consists of two types of columnar cells: principal cells (PCs) and ciliated cells (CCs), and is surrounded by a lamina propria (LP) with cells arranged circularly (LPCs). Enzymohistochemical study revealed more intense activity of succinic dehydrogenase, NADP, and ATPase in the CCs than in the PCs. The LPCs also showed an intense reaction for NADP and ATPase. Acid phosphatase activity was only intense in the apical cytoplasm of PCs. Immunohistochemical study revealed that antibodies to oestradiol receptor-related protein (ER-D5) immunostained the PCs and CCs intensely and the LPCs weakly. AE1/AE3 antibodies (which stain keratins nos. 1-8 and 14, 15 and 19) immunostained the PCs intensely, but was negative in both CCs and LPCs. Antibodies to keratin Ks.4.62 (which stain keratin no. 19) immunostained PCs and CCs but not LPCs. Epithelial membrane antigen antibodies (EMA) immunostained the adluminal surface and apical cytoplasm of PCs. Anti-vimentin antibodies immunostained the cytoplasm of PCs and CCs weakly as well as isolated cells in the LP. Antibodies to desmin immunostained most LPCs. Antibodies to collagen IV immunostained the basal lamina and many extracellular spaces in the LP, mainly around the LPCs. The differences between the enzymohistochemical and immunohistochemical patterns of the efferent ducts and those of the epididymis may help to explain functional differences along the epididymis.

Effects of cyproterone acetate on the ultrastructure of the human epididymis

The effects of cyproterone acetate (CPA), an antiandrogenic steroid, on the ultrastructure of the epithelial cells of the human epididymis were studied. Alterations in the cell size, in the cytoplasmic and surface characteristics, and in the morphology of different organelles are described. The different ultrastructural changes observed suggest that the absorptive and secretory functions of the principal cells are impaired following the CPA treatment. By contrast, with the drastic response of the principal cells of the ductuli efferentes and caput epididymidis, the epithelial cells of the cauda epididymidis appeared less affected. The suggestion of a differential androgen dependence among the different regions of this androgen target organ, as well as between the major cell-types of the epididymal epithelium, is briefly discussed.