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Fig. 2 | Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Fig. 2

From: Flutamide induces alterations in the cell-cell junction ultrastructure and reduces the expression of Cx43 at the blood-testis barrier with no disturbance in the rat seminiferous tubule morphology

Fig. 2

a-f Ultrastructure of basal ectoplasmic specialization in control (a-c) and flutamide-treated (d-f) rats. a-c Basal ectoplasmic specialization connecting adjoined Sertoli cells in control rats. Note that electron-dense tracer penetrates only between non-specialized membranes (double arrows in a, b, and c) and is stopped at the basal limit of ectoplasmic specialization (asterisk in b). Tangential section through the junctional complex (sandwiched between endoplasmic reticulum cisternae) located next to non-specialized membranes (c). Scale bars represent 0.5 μm. d-f Basal ectoplasmic specialization in flutamide-treated rat. Note loss of 3-membrane junctions (D); two circular ectoplasmic specializations in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cell (e); junctional complex (ectoplasmic specialization + tight junctions) penetrated by the tracer (double arrows in f). Scale bars represent 0.5 μm. Basement membrane – bm; endoplasmic reticulum – er; mitochondrium - m; Sertoli cell nucleus – nu. Arrows indicate 3-membrane junctions, open arrowheads – gap junctions, arrowheads – tight junctions

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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

ISSN: 1477-7827

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