Male Reproductive system Learning Objectives

1. describe histological structures of the male reproductive system correctly.

- Testis - Spermatogenic cells

2. explain spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis correctly.

3. describe histological structure of Sertoli cell and interstitial cell (Leydig cell)
correctly.

4. describe histological structure of intratesticular and excretory genital ducts

correctly.
Mr. Wiwat Jorakit
Department of anatomy 5. identify and explain the histological structure of seminal vesicle, prostate
Faculty of Medicine, Siam University gland and penis correctly.

Structures of male reproductive system Testis

Testis
• Both
- Seminiferous tubules
- Intratesticular duct - endocrine
(androgen secretion)
Excretory genital tract
- Ductus epididymis - exocrine
- Ductus (Vas) deferens (spermatogenesis)
- Ejaculatory duct
- Urethra
• Type - compound tubular gland
Accessory glands
- Seminal vesicle
- cytogenic gland
- Prostate gland
- Bulbourethral gland of Cowper
STRUCTURE
Copulatory organ • Stroma (framework)
- Penis
• Parenchyma
 Testis: Stroma Testicular lobules
Seminiferous tubule
- From tunica albuginea

Testicular capsule - Except: mediastinum testis

– Tunica vaginalis
- 250 testicular lobule
– Tunica albuginea
- Each lobule
(capsule) - 1- 4 seminiferous tubules
- thick dense CNT - Ø ~ 150-250 m
- 30-70 cm length
- coiled, unbranched
- closed loop

Testis: Parenchyma Interstitial tissue

- Convoluted seminiferous tubules
Consists of
: coiled, unbranched and closed loop
- loose CNT
 fibroblast
 macrophage
- neural structure
- capillary
- lymph vessel
- Interstitial tissue / peritubular tissue - Leydig cells
Leydig cell / Interstitial cell Wall of Seminiferous tubule
- Epithelium (Germinal or spermatogenic epithelium)
- large spherical or polyhedral shape  Stratified cuboidal epithelium
- concentric nucleus and prominent
nucleolus
- acidophilic cytoplasm with lipid
droplet
- secrete testosterone & other
androgens
(LH (ICSH) stimulation) - Peritubular tissue: myoid cell (smooth muscle-like)
(Flattened cell / elongated nucleus)

Germinal epithelium Sertoli cell / Sustentacular cell

- Spermatogenic cells or germ cells • Tall columnar cell, irregular
- Sertoli cells or sustentacular cell - Size 30 x 90 m
- Apical part: encloses late
spermatids Adluminal
- Middle part: abundant lateral compartment
processes harbor spermatocytes
and spermatids
- Basal part: narrow and harbor the Basal
spermatogonia compartment

- Tight junction (zonula occludens)

Nucleus: oval shape, transparent, dense nucleolus,

and perpendicular with basal
Cytoplasm: observe lipid droplet
 Function of Sertoli cell Spermatogenic cells
1. Support, protection, and nutrition of the developing spermatogenic
cells
- supply many plasma factors needed for cell growth and Location:
differentiation from blood-testis barrier
- protection from immune components - Adluminal compartment
2. Exocrine and endocrine secretion  Spermatozoa
- testicular fluid: carries new sperm out of the testis
- antigen-binding protein (ABP): concentrates testosterone
 Spermatid (Early (ES) & Late (LS))
ry
to a level required for spermiogenesis (control by FSH)  2 spermatocyte
- inhibin: glycoprotein for negative feedback to anterior ry
pituitary gland in suppression of FSH  1 spermatocyte (P)
- Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS): glycoprotein for
promoting the regression of embryonic Müllerian (paramesonephric) - Basal compartment
ducts in male
 Spermatogonia (Ad & Ap & B)
3. Phagocytosis
- excess cytoplasm (residual bodies) during spermiogenesis

(primordial germ cell)

Mitosis* Spermatogonia or Primitive germ cell

16 days

Schematic diagram Differentiation* Location: basal compartment

illustrating the Mitosis
(diploid cells) Size: Ø 12 - 20 μm
Meiosis I* 24 days
(haploid cells)
generations of Meiosis II* A few hrs Subtypes: 2 types
Spermiogenesis - type A
spermatogenic cells - Ad: oval nucleus (stem cells)
24 days - Ap: oval nucleus, pale stain
Spermatogenesis:- - type B: round nucleus 


approximate 64 days (differentiate from Ap)
or 2-3 months
 Primary spermatocyte Secondary spermatocyte
Location: near the lumen
Location : central region of epithelium Size: Ø 9 - 10 μm
Nucleus: round
Size: Ø 17-18 μm smaller than
Nucleus: round, euchromatic nuclei primary spermatocyte

Largest cell, Prolonged pachytene stage of
prophase first meiotic division (22-24 days)


 Short life span (2-3 hrs.) and complete in 20 hrs (May not observe)

Spermatid Histology of Spermatogenic cells

Location : luminal position

Spermatogonia
Size: Ø 9 μm
Primary spermatocyte
Nucleus: round, oval & dense
Spermatid
Cell shape: round, ovoid &
related to sertoli cells
Spermatogenesis  2-3 Months Testis and Spermatogenesis
3. Spermatid phase
(transformation or
Spermiogenesis)

2. Spermatocyte phase
( 1st & 2nd meiotic
division)

1. Spermatogonial phase
(mitotic division
& differentiation)

Spermiogenesis The mature sperm cell

- Nuclear Head: Genetic region (nucleus) and A
Nucleus
acrosome (enzyme)
condensation
Neck • 2 centrioles B
- Acrosome
Golgi apparatus Tail • Middle piece: ring shape
formation mitochondria grouped around C
- Flagellum Centriole, the axoneme
mitochondria,
formation and microtubule • Principle piece: sheath of ring
D
fibers around the axoneme
- Cytoplasmic
Phagocytosis by • End piece: only the 9+2
reduction sertoli cells E
structure of the axoneme
Proceed at the same time 60 µm long
 head 5 µm long
- nucleus
Morphology of spermatozoa
- acrosomal cap
• Normal
neck, 2 centrioles
• Abnormal: Head, Tail
- origin of fiber
middle piece 7µm
- cilia
- 9 course fibers
- ring mitochondria
principal piece 40µ
- cilia
- 9 course fibers Normal Values.
- 2 long column fibers (1) volume: 1.5-5.0 ml.
- circumference fibers
(2) pH: 7.2-7.6.
end piece 5-10 µ (3) motility: 60-90 percent.
- Only tubule 9+2 (4) spermatozoa count: 60-150 million per ml.

Male infertility causes and risk factors effecting spermatogenesis Male Genital Tract
- Intratesticular duct
•Cryptorchidism - Straight tubule / Tubuli recti
- Rete testis
•Drugs
- Efferent ductule
•Radiation - Excretory genital duct Wall:
•Ductal obstruction - Ductus epipidymis Mucosa
•Hormone dysfunction - Ductus (Vas) deferens - Epithelium: simple squamous 
•Prostatitis - Ejaculatory duct pseudostratified epithelium
- Urethra - Lamina propria
•Sexually transmitted diseases
GC, syphilis, herpes Muscular layer; smooth muscle
•Sickle cell anemia - inner circular
•Elavated testicular temperature - longitudinal
•Systemic disease (no muscular layer  thick
muscular layer)
•Testicular cancer
•Testicular trauma Adventitia: fibrosa & serosa
•Varicocele
 Genital ducts: Intratesticular ducts Straight seminiferous tubule or Tubuli recti
3. Efferent ductule 2. Rete testis

(lining entirely
by sertoli cell)

1. Straight tubule

Rete testis Efferent ductule

~ 8-20 in number

Wall
 Pseudostratified epithelium
(Complex interconnecting channels)
 Ciliated tall columnar cell

(Cilia push immature,

- simple cuboid or
immotile sperm to epididymis)
simple squamous
 Nonciliated cuboidal cell
epithelium
(reabsorbs testicular fluid
- basement membrane secreted by Sertoli cell)
- dense fibrous CNT  Basal cell (round cell)  Circular layer of smooth
(acts as stem cell) muscle cells
Excretory genital ducts Epididymis

(or Ductus epididymis)

- single highly coiled tube
 4 - 5 m. length
- embed in loose CNT
- superior posterior side of testis
Function:
- accumulation, storage, containing
decapacitation factors, and maturation
site of spermatozoa

Ductus epididymis Ductus epididymis

Epithelium consists of:
- tall columnar with stereocilia; (principal cell)
Wall (secretes glycoprotein and glycolipid, absorbs remaining water)
- basal cell
(stem cells)
Mucosa; pseudostratified columnar epithelium
- basal cell (round): acts as stem cells
- principal cell (columnar): long stereocilia

Muscular layer; circular

Adventitia; fibrosa
 Tail of Epididymis Ductus or Vas deferens
- stores sperm which remain viable for 40-45
days. survivor depends on adequate amounts of
androgen.
- abdominal part in spermatic cord
- short epithelium and stereocilia - pelvic part ampulla (fusiform shape)
- Mucosa: longitudinal fold
- surrounded by  3 thin layers of circular - Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
smooth m. - Lamina propria; elastic fiber
(sympathetic n.)  provide the main
propulsive force for ejaculation (produce - Muscular layer:
intense contraction) - inner longitudinal
- middle circular
Ampulla - outer longitudinal
(Epithelium is more extensively folded)
- Adventitia: fibrosa

Vas deferens epithelium Ampulla - Mucosa

of ductus - many longitudinal folds
- epithelium diverticulum (=gland)
deferens

- Muscular layer :
- inner longitudinal
- middle circular *
- outer longitudinal*
Tall columnar cell with sterocilia - storage reservoir of sperm
- For absorptive function - Produces fructose and necessary amino acid (ergothioneine)
- Concentrates spermatozoa - Ejaculation is coordinated with vas deferens pumping
 Ejaculatory duct Accessory Glands

Wall:
- epithelium: simple columnar or pseudostratified
columnar and change to transitional epithelium
- lamina propria
- located in prostate gland
Opening: near colliculus seminalis of prostatic
urethra

Seminal vesicle Seminal vesicle

- 15 cm compressed to 5 cm length
- Simple unbranched
(highly coiled) tubular gland
- Exocrine gland

Mucosa: folds, crypts

simple or pseudostratified columnar epithelium,
Muscular layer*
rich in secretory granules
- thin inner circular
Lumen: tightly packed with mucosal folds - thicker outer longitudinal
Principal cell / P / Tall cells: Nonciliated columnar Prostate gland
Secretion: glycoprotein and
milky-like, use for testing
prostatic cancer
- prostatic acid phosphatase
(PAP)
- prostate specific antigen
(PSA); helps liquefy
coagulated semen for the slow
release of sperm after
ejaculation

*short, round,
basal cell, BC, (stem cell) Type: compound tubulo-alveolar gland
- secretion (70% of seminal fluid) contains Mucosal glands (transitional zone) wall of urethra
fructose, inositol, citrate: major energy source of sperm
Submucosal glands (central zone) prostatic sinus
prostaglandin: stimulate activity in the female reproductive tract
fibrinogen: allows semen to coagulate after ejaculation
Main glands (peripheral zone) prostatic sinus
- yellowish, viscid secretion depends on testosterone Prostatic ducts from individual glands in each zone run directly to the prostatic urethra

Prostatic stroma Prostatic parenchyma; Secretory portion

Stroma:- fibromuscular tissue capsule
- fibromuscular tissue septum

Alveoli; irregular lumen Prostatic concretion or

- epithelial folding  pseudostratified Corpus amylaceum
columnar epithelium (glycoprotein, in old age)
 Active stage Prostatic duct  Prostatic urethra
(transitional epithelium lining)
Columnar cell (foamy appearance) Prostatic ducts epithelium
(tall columnar transitional epithelium)

Active prostate gland

Basal cell

- lined by mucous secreting cells

Bulbourethral / Cowper’s glands (cuboidal – columnar shape)
Type : simple/compound - secrets very viscous, clear mucous secretion (testosterone-dependent)
tubuloalveolar gland

- 1 pair
- size 5-8 mm
- position : posterolateral to base of penis Gland cells
- Apocrine gland
 Penis
3 cylindrical columns of
erectile tissue:
Two dorsal columns Cross section
- corpora cavernosa
(corpus cavernosum penis)
 Corpora cavernosa
One ventral column
- corpus spongiosum Tunica albuginea
(corpus cavernosum urethrae)
penile urethra  Corpus spongiosum
glans penis & penile urethra

Tunica albuginea Corpus cavernosum

- dense fibrous CNT
Central (deep) artery
- incomplete septum lead to allowing
equalizing of blood pressure 
nerve
Erectile
tissue smooth
Corpora cavernosa muscle cells
- Cavernous space = A-V shunts
Corpus spongiosum
& penile urethra endothelium
- Connective tissue trabeculae
 Erection
cavernous space = A-V shunts

Relaxed stage
Corpus
Circumflex
Tunica albuginea

Shunt -
spongiosum
vein

Shunt +

Urethral glands
Tunica albuginea: (thinner, more
Central a.  Dilate elastic fibers & smooth m.)
Trabeculae  Relaxed
Central a. and trabeculae  constricted Blood  filled in cavernous sinus
Blood  through out cavernous sinus to vein (Parasympathetic nerve) Lumen of urethra
(Sympathetic nerve)

urethra
Prepuce
skin

Corpus spongiosum * Glans penis

- Erectile tissue * Prepuce
- Penile urethral * Frenulum
- Urethral glands (Littre glands) Fossa navicularis
Frenulum
 Glans penis: fossa navicularis, Glans penis Erectile tissue
median septum and erectile tissue
Thin skin
epidermis vein
* CNT

* dermis

erectile tissue

Prepuce
Conclusion
Pacinian’s corpuscle

Semen component (±)

- 70% seminal vesicle
- 30% prostate gland
- 2-5% testis (200-500 million sperm)
- 1-2% bulbourethral and urethral gland
 References

Special thank; Hand out of histology lecture and laboratory by Asst. Prop. Kasorn Sripaoraya,
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.