Studies of the guinea pig epididymis. I. Ultrastructure and quantitative morphology of the principal cells.

The guinea pig epididymis is subdivided into seven zones. The ultrastructure and morphology of the principal cells in these zones is analyzed. The position, shape and content of the nuclei are variable along the length of the epididymal duct. Features characteristic of absorptive activity, such as micropinocytotic caveolae, vacuoles, and multivesicular bodies are of high concentration in zone IV and VI. The Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum and secretion granules are organelles and inclusions implicated to secretory functions and in this study are not found in the following concurring amounts within the principal cells of the seven zones: the Golgi apparatus exhibits a trend of increase from zone II to zone VII while the rough endoplasmic reticulum decreases. Secretion granules, though, are detected only in zones II and III, not only in the supra-, but also in the peri- and infranuclear regions. This possibly implies an exocrine secretory function. Lamellar whorls and profiles of tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum are concentrated in the supranuclear and adluminal regions of zones I, II and VI. A high concentration of large lipid droplets is a consistent feature of the perinuclear region of zone II. Mitochondria and lysosomes are detected in relatively large amounts along the epididymal duct. The correlations of these morphological characteristics with respect to their possible functional role are discussed.