[Scanning electron microscopy of the human male genital tract]

The three-dimensional features of the human male genital tract (rete testis, ductuli efferentes, ductus epididymis and vas deferens) and seminal vesicles epithelium have been studied by scanning electron microscopy. The luminal surface of the epithelial cells shows a particular pattern in the different organs, especially for the development of the microvilli and for the nature of the secretion. Particularly, while the columnar cells of the ductus epididymis and vas deferens present a secretory activity, microapocrine in nature, the seminal vesicles epithelium is characterized by a merocrine secretion. The present results are discussed in relation to the previous observations obtained by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.