RESUMO Morfometria testicular e de túbulos seminíferos do cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766) adultoOs parâmetros de biometria corporal e testicular são de grande importância no estabelecimento dos padrões reprodutivos e, consequentemente, no desenvolvimento de protocolos para a reprodução assistida nas diferentes espécies. Uma correlação direta entre o peso do testículo e a população espermática é observada nas diferentes espécies já estudadas, uma vez que o tamanho do testículo reflete principalmente o volume total do túbulo seminífero, seu principal componente. O presente trabalho tem como objetivos definir parâmetros volumétricos testiculares e correlacionar os dados de morfometria testicular e do túbulo seminífero com a massa corporal em seis cachorros-domato adultos. O peso corporal médio dos cachorros-do-mato foi de 6,53 Kg, dos quais cerca de 0,068% são alocados em massa testicular e 0,042% especificamente em túbulos seminíferos, que representam 87,5% do parênquima testicular. A albugínea representa 12,5% da massa testicular. O diâmetro médio dos túbulos seminíferos em cachorro-do-mato foi de 236 μm, e a espessura média do epitélio seminífero foi de 62,9 μm, sendo encontrados em média 18 metros de túbulo seminífero por grama de testículo. Os valores para os parâmetros tubulares indicam uma produtividade espermática próxima àquelas observadas nos carnívoros já estudados. Body and testicular biometric parameters are very important for establishing reproductive patterns and, consequently, the development of protocols for assisted reproduction in different species. A direct correlation between the testis weight and the sperm population was observed in other studied species, because the testis size primarily reflects the total volume of the seminiferous tubule, its main component. The objective of this study was to determine the testicular volume parameters and correlate data from morphometry of testis and seminiferous tubules with body mass in six adult crab-eating foxes. The mean body weight of the crab-eating foxes in this study was 6.53 kg, with approximately 0.068% allocated to the testicular mass and 0.042% specifically to seminiferous tubules, which represented 87.5% of the testicular parenchyma. The albuginea comprised 12.5% of the testicular mass. The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules was 236 μm, and the mean thickness of the seminiferous epithelium was 62.9 μm. Values of tubular parameters indicate a sperm productivity close to those observed in previously studied carnivores. Palavras

Knowledge of the stages that compose the seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC) and determination of the duration of spermatogenic processes are fundamental for the accurate quantification of the dynamics of spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to characterize the stages that compose the SEC of the bat Sturnira lilium, including evaluation of the average frequency of each of these stages throughout the year and calculation of the duration of the spermatogenic process. An ultrastructural characterization of the formation of the acrosomal cap was also performed. Testicular fragments were processed for morphological and immunohistochemical analysis as well as ultrastructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy. According to the tubular morphology method, the SEC in S. lilium is divided into eight stages, following the pattern found in other mammals. Primary spermatocytes were found at zygotene in stage 1 of the cycle. There was no variation in frequency of each of the stages over the seasons, with stage 1 being the most frequent, and stage 7 the least frequent. The duration of one seminiferous epithelium cycle was 3.45 days, and approximately 15.52 days were required for the development of sperm from spermatogonia. Ultrastructural characterization allowed the formation of the acrosomal cap in round spermatids to be monitored. In conclusion, the stages that compose the SEC in S. lilium are generally similar to those described for other mammals, but the duration of the spermatogenic process is shorter than previously recorded for mammals. The presence of primary spermatocytes at zygotene in stage 1 of the cycle is probably due to the longer duration of this stage.

Six adult Leopardus tigrinus (oncilla) were studied to characterize stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and its relative frequency and duration, as well as morphometric parameters of the testes. Testicular fragments were obtained (incisional biopsy), embedded (glycol methacrylate), and histologic sections examined with light microscopy. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was categorized into eight stages (based on the tubular morphology method). The duration of one seminiferous epithelium cycle was 9.19 d, and approximately 41.37 d were required for development of sperm from spermatogonia. On average, diameter of the seminiferous tubules was 228.29 μm, epithelium height was 78.86 μm, and there were 16.99 m of testicular tubules per gram of testis. Body weight averaged 2.589 kg, of which 0.06 and 0.04% were attributed to the testis and seminiferous tubules, respectively. In conclusion, there were eight distinct stages in the seminiferous epithelium, the length of the seminiferous epithelium cycle was close to that in domestic cats and cougars, and testicular and somatic indexes were similar to those of other carnivores of similar size.

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