Tumors of dysgenetic gonads (gonadoblastoma): Ultrastructural and steroidogenic aspects

The light and electron microscopic morphology and in vitro steroidogenic capacity of the gonadal lesions in three patients with gonadal dysgenesis is presented. One subject had bilateral gonadoblastomas while the other two had unilateral gonadoblastomas and contralateral streak gonads. These studies focus attention upon the presence of Sertoli-type cells in the tubular component of such lesions and to their possible participation in basement membrane formation, excessive amounts of which account for the so-called Call-Exner-like bodies. It was also observed that the light morphological presence or absence of interstitial cells gave no indication of the potential steroidogenic capacity of gonadal tissue in vivo or in vitro. Three of the gonadoblastomas and one of the streak gonads studied formed androgens and estrogens in vitro, although interstitial cells were not detected in one of these tumors or the streak gonad.