The histochemical localization of carbohydrates, ribonucleoproteins (RNA), lipids, some hydrolytic enzymes, succinate and lactate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase were investigated in the prostate, urethral and bulbourethral glands of the camel. These glands probably secrete carbohydrate-protein complexes. In the bulbourethral glands, they are sulphated mucopolysaccharides. RNA was seen in the cytoplasm of the prostate and urethral glands. Neutral lipids were cytoplasmic and present in moderate amounts in the prostate and urethral glands and in traces, in the bulbourethral gland. Acid phosphatase-containing granules were abundant in the prostate, moderate in the urethral glands and in traces in the bulbourethral glands. Alkaline phosphatase was observed in the apical cytoplasm of the prostate and bulbourethral glands and in the ducts of the urethral glands. ATPase and adenosine 5-monophosphatase were seen in the basal laminae and interstitial tissue. In the urethral glands, adenosine 5-monophosphatase was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm. Succinate dehydrogenase was seen in the urethral and bulbourethral glands. Varying degrees of lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed in all the glands. Acetylcholinesterase was confined to neural elements. The pars disseminata and the urethral glands were considered as two distinct glandular zones along the pelvic urethra. The significance of these histochemical results is discussed.
Summary. Alkaline It has also been shown that alkaline phosphatase activity in the droplet of rabbit spermatozoa decreases during epididymal transit and that there is a reduction in activity in degenerating spermatozoa. Degeneration in spermatozoa was produced in rabbits by means of artificial cryptorchidism, and after 2 weeks, activity in the droplets was completely lost.
The histochemical localization of carbohydrates and lipids and some oxidative, hydrolytic and steroid-linked enzymes has been studied in the testis of the camel with particular reference to the effect of the season on the distribution of these substances. PAS-positive, but diastase-resistant, material was seen mainly in the wall of blood vessels and in the boundary tissues of the seminiferous tubules, tubuli recti and rete testis. Clear cyclical changes were seen for glycogen in the lining epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. Glycogen was most abundant in early stages and very scanty or absent in the late stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Numerous small lipid droplets were seen in the interstitial cells and towards the lumen of the seminiferous tubules that contain elongate spermatids or spermatozoa. Large lipid droplets were also demonstrable in the basal layer of the seminiferous epithelium and in the cytoplasmic debri. Alkaline phosphatase was demonstrated in the boundary tissues of the seminiferous tubules, tubuli recti and reti testis and in the cells bordering the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Succinate and lactic dehydrogenases showed similar patterns of distribution in the interstitial elements and intratubularly. delta5-3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was exclusively demonstrated in the interstitial cells. 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase could not be demonstrated. The season seems to have no effect on the distribution of all these substances. The possible significance of all these findings is discussed.
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