Morphological Studies on the Epididymal Duct of the One-Humped Camel (Camelus Dromedaries)

Abstract

The present work was carried out on 20 epididymes of sexually mature one humped camel to elucidate the gross anatomical, scanning electron microscopical and light microscopical features of the epididymal duct. Anatomically, the epididymal duct of camel consists of three parts i.e. head, body and tail. Histomorphologically, the epididymal duct is subdivided into initial, middle and terminal segments, of which the middle segment is further subdivided into proximal, intermediate and distal parts. The epithelium lining the epididymal duct is ciliated pseudostratified columnar comprising mainly five cell types, namely principal, basal, apical, dark and halo cells. It displays numerous intraepithelial glands in the middle segment. In general, there is a gradual increase in the total diameter and decrease in the epithelial height of the epididymal duct from the initial to the terminal segments; that may, mechanically, facilities passage of the sperms toward the terminal segment. The lamina propria of the epididymal duct contains a layer of interlacing elastic fibers which may allow adequate elasticity of the duct that could help in its expansion. Moreover it is surrounded by numerous layers of circularly and obliquely arranged smooth muscle fibers which always increase in thickness toward the terminal segment.

Cezayir’in Kurak İkliminde Yetiştirilen D’Man Kuzularında Postnatal Gelişim Süresince Epididimiste Androjen Reseptörlerinin İmmunolokalizasyonu ve Morfometrik Bir Çalışma

“…The epithelial height of caput was more developed than in corpus and cauda epididymis. In OneHumped Camel (Camelus dromedaries) [21] , in rat [19] , the highest epithelium was seen in the caput and decreased gradually toward the cauda; wards the epididymal duct might mechanically facilitate the passage of the sperms toward the terminal segment [21] .…”

Histomorphometry of Dromedary Camel Epididymis and its Correlation with Spermatozoa Characteristics during their Epididymal Transport

“…At the laboratory, the epididymis was dissected and separated from the testis, according to Yu and Leibo (2002), rinsed with 0.9% saline and its weight (g) and length (cm) were recorded as described by Mahmud et al (2015). Each epididymis was distinguished into head, body and tail as described by Zayed et al (2012), incised and the leaked semen was examined for the motility (Melo et al, 2005), concentration (Atiq et al, 2011 and livability (EL-Sisy et al, 2008).…”

“…In camels, the epididymis is distinguished anatomically into head, body and tail (Nickel et al, 1979). The head of epididymis (caput) is curved around the cranial testicular pole and attached to the apical extremity of the testis by a fibrous band (Zayed et al, 2012). The epididymal body (corpus) is attached to the dorsal testicular border forming a sinus opens laterally (Zayed et al, 2012).…”

“…The head of epididymis (caput) is curved around the cranial testicular pole and attached to the apical extremity of the testis by a fibrous band (Zayed et al, 2012). The epididymal body (corpus) is attached to the dorsal testicular border forming a sinus opens laterally (Zayed et al, 2012). The epididymal tail (cauda) is attached to the distal testicular extremity by the proper ligament of the testis and attached to the tunica vaginalis by the ligament of the tail of the epididymis (Zayed et al, 2012).…”

“…The epididymal body (corpus) is attached to the dorsal testicular border forming a sinus opens laterally (Zayed et al, 2012). The epididymal tail (cauda) is attached to the distal testicular extremity by the proper ligament of the testis and attached to the tunica vaginalis by the ligament of the tail of the epididymis (Zayed et al, 2012).…”