Direct visualization of contractile proteins in pertubular cells of the guinea-pig testis using antibodies against highly purified actin and myosin.

Antibodies against actin and myosin from smooth muscle, which may react with contractile elements from both muscular and muscle-like cells, were applied to fresh frozen sections of adult guinea-pig testis. Sections stained with an antibody against pectoralis (striated) muscle myosin or with non-immune globulin were used for controls. Peritubular cells of the lamina propria surrounding seminiferous tubulus contained large amounts of actin and myosin as judged by the intensity of immunofluorescence. Sertoli cells did not stain with the antibodies. Our results support the concept of peritubular cells being the critical force for the contractility of seminiferous tubules.