Reticulin fibres in the tunica albuginea and peritubular tissue of seminiferous tubules of adult male Wistar rats.

Reticulin fibres are fine fibres that contain primarily collagen type III and are found in soft blood-forming or blood-processing tissues, and are supportive elements in kidney, liver and thymus. This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of reticulin fibres in the tunica albuginea and peritubular tissue of seminiferous tubules of adult rat testes after staining with the metallic silver impregnation method. Reticulin fibres of peritubular tissues may provide a supportive framework for germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules to allow the periphery-to-centre progression of spermatozoa during spermatogenesis. The presence of fibres in all stages of the spermatogenic cycle suggests that they have structural functions.