Histological and some histochemical studies on the epididymes of ram

Abstract

This study was conducted on 60 sexually mature apparently healthy ram (Rahmani breed) with average age ranged from (2_4) years and average weight ranged from (50_65) kg. After slaughtering of rams, the epididymis was dissected out and separated from the testis and examined for any pathological changes. Each epididymis was divided into efferent ductules and epididymal duct. The latter was further subdivided into six histological segments; segment I (initial duct), segment II (central caput), segment III (distal caput), segment IV (corpus epididymis), segment V (proximal cauda epididymis) and segment VI (distal cauda epididymis). All specimens were examined for histological, morphometrical, histochemical, ultrastructural, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. For light microscope, the specimens were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution and Bouin's fixative. Samples were sectioned at a thickness of 3_5 μ and stained by different stains. This investigation showed that the epididymis of mature ram was composed of efferent ductules and epididymal duct. The epididymis was covered by a thick tunica albuginea which could be demarcated into an outer dense fibrous layer and inner loose fibrous layer. The outer layer contained numerous small and medium sized arteries and veins, lymphatic vessels and nerve fibers. The interlobular fibrous connective tissue septa extended from the deeper part of the tunica albuginea dividing the efferent ductules and the epididymal duct into lobules of various sizes. The intralobular stroma that housed the efferent ductules showed fine collagen fibers, some connective tissue cells as well as blood capillaries and small lymphatic vessels. The efferent ductules connect the extra_testicular rete testis to the epididymal duct. The rete testis was lined with cuboidal cells which changed abruptly to pseudostratified columnar epithelium at the junction with the efferent ductules. The columnar cells of the efferent ductules were of two main cell types; ciliated and non