400 



PHYSIOLOGY OF GONADS 



heavy strands or networks (Figs. 6.19 and 

 6.22) which do not conform precisely to 

 the shape or area of the cytoplasmic clear 

 zone. Mitochondria are distributed as rods 

 or granules in all parts of the cell. The se- 

 cretion in the lumina of the alveoli is eo- 

 sinophilic and mainly granular. A basement 

 membrane rests on a stroma of connective 

 tissue containing smooth muscle strands 

 and blood vessels. Occasional small basal 

 cells are wedged between the tall secretory 

 cells. These observations were made by 

 light microscopy of tissues fixed and stained 

 by routine methods (Moore, Price and Gal- 

 lagher, 1930). 



Electron microscopy (Harkin, 1957a) 

 shows that the epithelial cells have an en- 

 doplasmic reticulum or ergastoplasm com- 

 posed of membrane-lined sacs with a finely 

 granular component in the spaces between 

 them (Figs. 6.27 to 6.29) ; the outside of 

 the thin membrane is studded with Palade's 

 granules (Palade, 1955). The arrangement 

 of the sacs tends to parallel the long axis 

 of the cells, but in cross section the pattern 

 ai)pears concentric or lamellar, particularly 

 in the supranuclear region (Fig. 6.29). The 

 ergastoplasmic sacs occupy more space than 

 the matrix apically, but basally the two are 

 equally prominent (Fig. 6.28). The mem- 



TABLE 6.6 



Summary of the effects of testicular androgen, on the rat prostate and coagulating glands 



Normal Males 



Castrated Males 



General Characteristics 



All lobes 

 alveoli witli folded inueosa; secretion in the lumina.. 

 columnar epithelial cells: cytoplasm granular or foamy. 

 supranuclear clear zone in cytoplasm (ventral lobe) 



Golgi supranuclear networks 



mitochondria as rods or granules 



nuclei basal or central 



stroma of connective tissue and smooth muscle 



Size reduced; villi lost; secretion reduced 



Size reduced; pseudostratified; cytoplasm less dense 



Clear zone lost 



Reduced in amount; fragmented 



Still numerous but reduced in relative numbers 



Shrunken and pyknotic 



Increased fibromuscular tissue 



Specific Characteristics 



Ventral lobes 



Histochemical observations: 



secretion in lumina strongly PAS- and alkaline phosphatase-positive . . . 



cytoplasm weak PAS, strong alkaline phosphatase activity; 



basophilic reaction except in clear zone 



Golyi accumulations of PAS-positive granules 



stroma some alkaline phosphatase activity 



Electron microscopic observations: 



cytoplasm moderately distended ergastoplasmic sacs 



Golgi supranuclear microvesicular complex 



mitochondria numerous, prominent apically 



Lateral lobes 



Histochemical observations: 



cyioplasm luminal border organelle with high concentrations of zinc and 

 basophilic material; osmiophilic, argentophilic 



nucleoli high concentrations of zinc and marked basophilia 



stroma high concentrations of zinc; basojihilic material (jresent 

 Dorsal lobes 

 Histochemical observations: 



cytoplasm in apical region strongly basophilic; basally, some zinc 



nucleoli high concentrations of zinc and marked basophilia 



stroma basophilic material; strong alkaline i)hosphatase reaction 



Electron microscopic observations: 



cytoplasm distended ergastoplasmic cisternae; 



Coagulating glands (anterior prostate) 

 Histocheinical observations: 



secretion strongly PAS-positive 



cytoplasm weak P.\S reaction 



stroma some alkaline phosphatase activity 



Electron microscopic observations: 



cyioplasm extremely dilated ergastoplasmic cisternae 



Some phosphatase activity retained 

 Phosphatase activity low 



Sacs collapsed; granvilar component reduced 



Reduced in size 



Reduced in relative numbers 



Cisternae collapse 



granules reduced 



pears unalterc 



Cisternae collapsed; granules reduced 



