In guinea pig testes perfused with either glutaraldehyde or osmium tetroxide fixative, the cytoplasm of the interstitial cells contains an exceptionally abundant agranular endoplasmic reticulum. The reticulum in central regions of the cell is a network of interconnected tubules, but in extensive peripheral areas the reticulum is commonly organized into closely packed, flattened cisternae which are fenestrated. Occasional small patches of the granular reticulum occur in the cytoplasm and connect freely with the agranular reticulum. The mitochondria have a dense matrix and contain cristae and some tubules. The Golgi complex is disperse and shows no evidence of secretory material. The cytoplasm also contains lipid droplets. Lipofuscin pigment granules are probably polymorphic residual bodies and contain three components: (1) a dense material which at high magnification shows a 75-A periodicity; (2) a medium-sized lipid droplet; and (3) a cap-like structure. In glutaraldehyde-perfused testis the interstitial cell cytoplasm appears to have the same density from cell to cell, and the agranular reticulum is tubular or cisternal but not in the form of empty vesicles. Thus the "dark" and "light" cells and the vesicular agranular reticulum sometimes encountered in other fixations may be artifacts. Biochemical results from other laboratories, correlated with the present findings, indicate that the membranes of the agranular endoplasmic reticulum in guinea pig interstitial cells are the site of at least two enzymes of androgen biosynthesis, the 17-hydroxylase and the 17-desmolase.

https://rupress.org/jcb/article-pdf/26/3/911/1382948/911.pdf

The fine structure of testicular interstitial cells in guinea pigs

The testicular interstitial cells of mice contain an abundant agranular endoplasmic reticulum occurring as a network of interconnected tubules. Unusual features of the reticulum are occasional extensive whorls of concentric membranes and the occurrence of bundles of parallel double-walled tubules. The mitochondria have tubular cristae and are occasionally very large.

In contrast to the interstitial cells of other species that have been described, the mouse interstitial cells show a segregation of the cytoplasm into areas of dense agranular reticulum and other areas where the agranular reticulum is relatively sparse. The latter areas contain scattered cistenae of granular reticulum, many free ribosomes in clusters, mitochondria, lipid droplets and small granules. The mitochondria and lipid droplets are often encircled by cisternae of the reticulum.

Biochemical evidence from other laboratories, taken with the present results, indicates that the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum in mouse interstitial cells are the site of the enzymes that mediate the synthesis of testosterone from progesterone. There is also an indication that cholesterol biosynthesis is associated with the agranular reticulum. The membranes of the agranular reticulum may also serve as a reservoir for the storage of cholesterol.

The fine structure of testicular interstitial cells in mice

Membrane-bound enzymes of cholesterol synthesis from lanosterol.

Beatrice P. Ying

Papers

Testicular sterols. IV. End-product steroid inhibition of lanosterol demethylation=.

Testicular sterols. 3. effect of gonadotrophins on the biosynthesis of testicular sterols.

Testicular sterols. 1. incorporation of mevalonate and acetate into sterols by testicular tissue from rats.