Holstein A F
Andrologia. 1978 Sep-Oct;10(5):331-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1978.tb03044.x.
The fine structure of cells capable of phagocytosing spermatozoa in the testes and epididymes of monkeys and men was studied by means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Both resident cells, such as Sertoli cells and epithelia of the rete testis, and free cells, such as macrophages (spermatophages) were found to phagocytose spermatozoa or fragments of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules and excurrent ducts. The spermatophages develop from precursor cells which invade the seminiferous tubules. After phagocytosis of spermatozoa they increase in size and sometimes possess more than one nucleus. Large spherically shaped spermatophages are found in the epididymis. In the rete spaces of Macaca fascicularis spermatophages are able to penetrate the rete epithelia and reside in the subepithelial connective tissue layers. Spermatophagy is frequently seen in the gonads of older men and in certain cases of oligozoospermia. In Macaca an increased number of spermatophages occurs at the end of the spermatogenetic season.
通过透射电子显微镜和扫描电子显微镜研究了在猴子和人类睾丸及附睾中能够吞噬精子的细胞的精细结构。发现诸如支持细胞和睾丸网上皮等驻留细胞以及诸如巨噬细胞（噬精细胞）等游离细胞在生精小管和输出管道中吞噬精子或精子片段。噬精细胞由侵入生精小管的前体细胞发育而来。吞噬精子后，它们体积增大，有时拥有不止一个细胞核。在附睾中发现大型球形噬精细胞。在猕猴的睾丸网间隙中，噬精细胞能够穿透睾丸网上皮并驻留在上皮下结缔组织层中。在老年男性的性腺以及某些少精子症病例中经常可见精子吞噬现象。在猕猴中，在生精季节末期噬精细胞数量增加。
