Apical Body

Apical section of the testes **Apical body**, acrosomalium (from ancient Greek ακρο - “upper, last” + σῶμα “body”) - excretory vacuole of vertebrate seminal cells. Its volume corresponds to the volume of the cell body and about 30% of the volume of the entire seminal vesicle. It is an elliptical vesicle with a layered wall and a substance located at one of the poles that resembles liquid wax, or rather a sticky, viscous hyaline secretion, which is produced by glandular cells called [acrosomal cells](https://dic.academic.ru/ dic.nsf/medic2/8076) Significance Of particular importance is the ability of acrosomes to easily separate from the plasma membrane of the cell and “jump out” from it upon any mechanical stimulation of the cell or exposure to a specific chemical (see [Activation of sperm] and [Determination of the fertilizing ability of animal semen ]). Structural features of the acrosome The upper part of the acrosome is thin, penetrated by many tubules, which leads to an increase in its surface area. In this part also

Apical bodies

One of the important structural elements of eukaryotic cells are apical bodies (AT). In fact, ATs are membrane processes that protect the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cell from environmental conditions, limiting cell access to aggressive environmental factors.

Apical bodies are found in the majority of both plant and animal cells, with the exception of erythrocytes, epithelial cells of the placenta, and higher-order neurons. Along with microfilaments and microtubules, apical bodies can be considered as a key component that controls cell shape and provides selective access to the nucleus and cytoplasmic components.

History of discoveries The discovery of apical bodies was made much earlier than their functional significance became clear. This protein formation was perhaps first described in the 19th century in the work of Rene Theophile de Bicelle, who described animal tissue fibroblasts as having two concentric layers to form symplasts, with the inner layer consisting of “binuclear compounds forming a wide circle , located in the center” (R. T. de Biecle, 1871).

The apical membrane was described in more detail by its discoverer Louis Laroche Cahen, better known as Lee Katznberger (Louisa Annie Lansbury Richardson Katzberger), in his 1930 doctoral dissertation “The Physiology and Histology of the Human Salivary Gland and Its Relation to Disease.” (Lee D'Orbanche Catz