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Science 9 February 1973:
Vol. 179. no. 4073, pp. 573 - 575
DOI: 10.1126/science.179.4073.573
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Articles

Fine Structure of Muscle Cells of the Human Testicular Capsule: Basis of Testicular Contractions

George A. Langford 1 and Carl G. Heller 1

1 Division of Reproductive Physiology, Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, Seattle, Washington 98104

Electron micrographs of human testicular capsule reveal large numbers of branching smooth muscle cells coursing through collagenous tissue of the tunica albuginea. These cells have subcellular morphology characteristic of smooth muscle cells, and they associate with one another through areas of close contact. These are the contractile cells responsible for spontaneous contractions of the human testicular capsule—contractions that may be important in transporting nonmotile sperm out of the testis.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Smooth Muscle and Purinergic Contraction of the Human, Rabbit, Rat, and Mouse Testicular Capsule.
F. C.L. Banks, G. E. Knight, R. C. Calvert, M. Turmaine, C. S. Thompson, D. P. Mikhailidis, R. J. Morgan, and G. Burnstock (2006)
Biol Reprod 74, 473-480
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Electric Activity of the Testicular Tunica Albuginea During Ejaculation: A Canine Study.
A. Shafik, O. El Sibai, and A. A. Shafik (2005)
Experimental Biology and Medicine 230, 569-572
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)