[Ultrastructure of intercellular bridges of male germ cells]

The morphology of intercellular bridges between spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids has been examined by electron microscopy on different species and on man. Bridges between spermatocytes and spermatids exhibit species specificity with regard to size, structure and density of the electron dense bridge substance. In each species, intercellular bridges differentiate from the basal compartment to the adluminal compartment. This is seen in structural changes within a layer of dense substance in the subplasmalammal layer. Common to all species are structures such as membranous systems, microtubules or midbodies, associated with the bridges. There is evidence that intercellular bridges have organelle character.