[Incidence of lamellae annulatae in testicular biopsy material]

Incidence of lamellae annulatae has been studied in testis biopsy specimens of 52 patients with varicocele, atrophia of testis, agenesia of ductus deferens and Klinefelter syndrome. Biopsies were performed between September 1977 and June 1979. Lamellae annulatae have been observed in every case except two. These observations seem to confirm the hypothesis, according to which lamellae annulate of germinal cells take their origin from the nuclear membranes. Their localization in Sertoli cells seems to contradict to this theory. Lamellae annulatae of germinal cells have a longitudinal, parallel arrangement. In Sertoli cells most of them appear to be concentric structure. Lamellae annulatae in accordance with data reported in literature in Leydig cells have not been found.