Effect of age on the composition of seminiferous tubular boundary tissue and on the volume of each component in humans. Academic Article

abstract

• Seminiferous tubular boundary tissue thickens with age. The objective was to characterize the composition of boundary tissue in 16 young adult (20 to 29 years) and 18 older adult (51 to 84 years) men. Testes were perfused with glutaraldehyde, placed in osmium, and embedded in Epon 812 (Ladd Research Industries, Burlington, VT). Paired testicular weight, length of tubules, volume of seminiferous epithelium, and daily sperm production were significantly reduced in older men. Although the thickness of boundary tissue was greater (P less than 0.01) in older men, the volume of boundary tissue per man was similar between age groups. The percentages and volumes per man of boundary tissue myoid cells, collagen, microfibrils, and other components also were similar (P greater than 0.05) between age groups. This study confirms that age-related thickening of boundary tissue occurs without the new deposition (augmentation) of collagen or other extracellular components.

authors

• Johnson, Larry

published proceedings

• Fertil Steril

author list (cited authors)

• Johnson, L., Abdo, J. G., Petty, C. S., & Neaves, W. B.

citation count

• 19

complete list of authors

• Johnson, L||Abdo, JG||Petty, CS||Neaves, WB

publication date

• June 1988

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Fertility and Sterility  Journal

keywords

• Actin Cytoskeleton
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 And Over
• Aging
• Basement Membrane
• Collagen
• Epithelium
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• Male
• Microscopy, Electron
• Middle Aged
• Seminiferous Tubules
• Testis

PubMed Central ID

• 3371482

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59959-2

start page

• 1045

end page

• 1051

volume

• 49

issue

• 6

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fs0015-0282%2816%2959959-2