Ultrastructure of goat testes: tubulobulbar complexes between spermatids and Sertoli cells

The fine structure of tubulobulbar complex (TBC) of goat seminiferous epithelium was studied using testicular samples fixed by perfusion. During the maturation phase of the spermatid, the TBC appeared on the periphery of the head before spermiation, dorsal and ventral parts of the head, both sides of the acrosome and on the postnuclear sheath region. At an early stage of the development of the TBC, a partial loss of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the ectoplasmic specialization of a neighboring Sertoli cell was observed; filament bundles disappeared and a small fragmented smooth endoplasmic reticulum was left. Subsequently, a spermatid vesicle (coated vesicle) expanded to be in contact with the Sertoli cytoplasm by a small channel. These tubular projections extended to form a bulbous balloon-like structure forming sometimes a bi-balloon appearance, until torn off from the spermatid into the Sertoli cytoplasm and probably digested by the Sertoli cell. The significance of this structural development was morphologically discussed.