Three-dimension shape reconstruction of peritubular myoid cells

Abstract

Peritubular myoid cells (MP cells), are part of seminiferous tubule (TS) wall. These cells are similar to smooth muscle cells but myophilaments are organized in two perpendicular layers. Were constructed the three dimension (TD) shape of individual MP cells using the density of actin filaments (AF). TS were isolated from adult Wistar rat testes, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and AF stained with anti-alpha actin antibody conjugated with Cy3. AF distribution were analyzed by confocal microscopy in 40 transverse sections of 0.4 μm. Using Image J program, the TD shape of individual MP cells were reconstructed. MP cells looked like a hexagon of 6 μm high containing a groove of 16 μm depth in the center of the body. We interpreted that the shape of PM is directly related to the way of TS contraction.