Hees H, Wrobel K H, Kohler T, Leiser R, Rothbächer I
Cell Tissue Res. 1987 Apr;248(1):143-51. doi: 10.1007/BF01239975.
The rete testis of the bull is situated within an axial mediastinum and consists of approximately 30 longitudinally arranged, anastomosing rete channels. At the cranial testicular pole all rete channels empty into a common space, the area confluens retis, which is subdivided by small septa and narrow chordae retis. The area confluens always contains numerous spermatozoa and is connected with the bulbous initial portions of the efferent ductules by short, often tortuous rete tubules. Since the connection between rete and efferent ductules is situated within the tunica albuginea, the bovine excurrent duct system is not provided with an extratesticular rete as in many other mammals. Straight testicular tubules merge from all directions to connect with superficial rete channels, but the inlets are not evenly distributed. In the periphery each straight tubule begins with a cup-like structure followed by a narrow stalk region and a heavily folded portion opening either immediately into a rete channel or into a tube-like lateral rete extension. In close contiguity to the rete testis lie extremely coiled arterial portions connecting the centripetal and the centrifugal branches of the testicular artery. Since intrinsic musculature is scarcely developed in the mediastinum, and transport of rete content relies primarily on massage due to external pressure changes, the pulsatile blood flow through these coiled arteries may influence conveyance processes within the rete testis. An intimate spatial association between area confluens retis and adjacent large, thin-walled lymph vessels may facilitate a transfer of androgens into the fluid of the rete testis.
公牛的睾丸网位于轴心中纵隔内，由大约30条纵向排列、相互吻合的睾丸网管道组成。在睾丸头端极，所有睾丸网管道汇入一个共同的空间，即睾丸网汇合区，该区域被小隔膜和狭窄的睾丸索细分。睾丸网汇合区总是含有大量精子，并通过短的、通常弯曲的睾丸网小管与输出小管的球状起始部分相连。由于睾丸网与输出小管的连接位于白膜内，牛的输出管道系统不像许多其他哺乳动物那样具有睾丸外睾丸网。直的睾丸小管从各个方向汇聚，与浅表的睾丸网管道相连，但入口分布不均匀。在周边，每个直小管起始于一个杯状结构，接着是一个狭窄的柄状区域和一个高度折叠的部分，该部分要么直接开口于一个睾丸网管道，要么开口于一个管状的睾丸网侧支延伸部。与睾丸网紧密相邻的是极度盘绕的动脉部分，连接着睾丸动脉的向心支和离心支。由于中纵隔内固有肌肉组织几乎不发育，睾丸网内容物的运输主要依赖于外部压力变化引起的按摩，因此通过这些盘绕动脉的搏动性血流可能会影响睾丸网内的输送过程。睾丸网汇合区与相邻的大的薄壁淋巴管之间紧密的空间关联可能有助于雄激素向睾丸网液中的转运。
