Nerve and Glial Cell Expressions in the Testes and Epididymides of Different Age Groups of Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the variations in the expressions of neuronal and glial cell markers in the testes and epididymides of different age groups of cane rat using histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Method: Thirty (32) healthy domesticated male cane rats were used for this investigation. The rats were divided into four groups (prepubertal [≤4 months], pubertal (>4 ≤12 months), adult (>12 ≤30 months), and aged (>30 months)] of 8 animals each. Subsequent to anesthesia and intracardiac perfusion of the rats with 10% buffered formalin, testes were harvested and preliminary assessment of nervous and glial structures was determined using the Golgi technique. Specific immunolocalization was done using the anti-neurofilament (NF-20) and anti-glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) for the expressions of neuronal and astrocyte-like cells, respectively. Result: Neuronal and astrocyte-like structures as revealed by the Golgi procedure were demonstrated in the tunica albuginea and interstitium of the testes as well as in the periductal muscle coat and epididymal interstitium of the caput down to the caudal segments. Golgi signal intensities of the expressions in both testes and epididymides increased with age advancement. Immunolocalization of the nerve structures and glial cells tallied with the Golgi results. However, NF signal intensity was significantly higher in the adult relative to others. Similarly, GFAP signal intensity increased with age increment. Conclusion: This study has shown that the variation in the expression of neuronal and glial cells in the testis and epididymis of the cane rat could be associated with increased reproductive reproductive activity.

Comprehensive Analysis Identifies Ameloblastin-Related Competitive Endogenous RNA as a Prognostic Biomarker for Testicular Germ Cell Tumour

“…Moreover, it is one of the specific diagnostic factors for glioblastoma multiforme [67]. GFAP is expressed in a variety of cell types [68,69], with recent studies demonstrating the expression of GFAP in the testis [70,71]. Our findings support this, and indicate that GFAP levels in TGCT cancer tissues could also be used as a diagnostic factor.…”

Immunolocalization of Desmin, Vimentin and S-100 proteins in testis and epididymis of African striped ground squirrel (Xerus erythropus)

“…Amselgruber et al (1994) also reported negative immunoreaction of S-100 in Sertoli cells of Wistar rats and proffered that immunoreactivity in the Sertoli cells may be dependent upon cyclic variations of the seminiferous epithelium. Conversely, Olukole et al (2020) observed moderate immunoreaction of S-100 in Sertoli cells of African four-toed hedgehogs, while Omirinde et al (2023) reported major expression in the Sertoli cell of cane rats (African giant pouched rats). Result of the present study indicated negative immunoreaction of S-100 in the epididymal smooth muscle cells, epithelial basal and apical cells and inter-ductal connective tissue.…”

Photoperiodic-dependent histomorphological changes in the excurrent duct system of helmeted guinea fowl subjected to short day (8L:16D), long-day (16L:8D) light/dark cycles and exogenous melatonin

“…The histo-morphometric measurements of the components of excurrent duct system (efferent duct, connecting duct, ductus epididymis and ductus deferens) were performed by modified methods of Omirinde et al (2021) . From the photographed (X10 objective lens) sections of each segment of the duct in different groups of guinea fowl (n=7), about twenty (20) round or nearly round ductal profiles were randomly selected for the evaluation of following parameters: the epithelial height (EH), stereocilia height (SH), luminal diameter (LD) and ductal diameter (DD) using GIMP2 software.…”