The effect of a synthetic progestine on the fine structure of the epididymal head (stereological analysis).

The alterations induced in principal cells of the epididymal head tissue of the rat by administration of a synthetic progestine (R2323, ethinyl-norgestrienone) were studied by electron microscopy. A total of 3 male, sex mature rats was applicated ethinyl-norgestrienone during a 3 months period in low dosage (60 mug) per day and was studied with 5 control animals. Stereological methods devised by Weibel (1969) and Rohr et al. (1976) were applied to light and electron micrographs. The calculated values are related to 1 cm3 of epididymal tissue, 1 cm3 of epididymal cell and 1 cm3 of epididymal cell cytoplasm. The Golgi apparatus was further subdivided; the values for the Golgi compartments are therefore refered to 1 cm3 of Golgi apparatus was further subdivided; the values for the Golgi compartments are therefore refered to 1 cm3 of Golgi apparatus. In the treated animals there was, related to the unit of epididymal tissue, a significant decrease in the volume density of the interductular tissue, whereas that for the lumina was significantly higher. The volume density of the glandular epithelium remains unchanged. Refered to the unit volume of principal cell cytoplasm the rough endoplasmic reticulum shows a signficant decrease by 6.5%, whereas the smooth endoplasmic retiuclum is increased by 6.3%. The volume density of the lysosomes was calculated to be 4.3% (Control 2.5%). The stereological data of the Golgi apparatus indicate a vacuolar transformation: Increased volume of vacuoles, decreased volume fraction of saccules and vesicles. However, the volume density of the whole Golgi apparatus remains unchanged. An impaired secretory activity of the principal cells could be assumed.