Morphological Changes of the Epididymis and Description of the Excurrent Ducts of Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines: Chelidae) During the Reproductive Cycle

Abstract

The seminal ducts (efferent ductule, epididymis, and deferent duct) in adults of Phrynops geoffroanus were examined using light microscopy. A series of tubules (efferent ductules) connect the testes to the epididymides. The efferent ductules are formed by a rete of small tubules of varying diameters, with simple columnar epithelium formed by the ciliated cells, nonciliated cells, and few basal cells. The epididymis is a simple, long and highly convoluted tubule that receives the efferent ductules throughout its extension. It is covered by a pseudostratified columnar epithelium with three cellular types: the principal cells, which are the most abundant, basal cells, and a small narrow cell. The histological differences in the epididymis region (cranial, medial, and caudal), as well as the differences in the epithelium throughout the reproductive cycle, are discussed. The deferent ducts consist of a low pseudostratified epithelium with two cellular types: the principal and basal cells. During the months analyzed, spermatozoa were stored in the epididymis, and deferent ducts were found. Anat Rec, 294:145-155, 2011. V V C 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Morphology and biometry of the reproductive organs of adult males of Trachemys scripta elegans reared in São Paulo state, Brazil

“…Alike to these species, the epididymal duct in T. scripta elegans was surrounded by smooth muscle tissue and loose connective tissue, the epithelium was composed of principal and basal cells, and the lumen was filled with spermatozoa. The heterogeneous shape of the principal cells and the location of the basal cells agreed with the findings described by Cabral et al (2011b) and with the description in Pelusios castaneus (Olukole et al 2014). In the present study, spermatozoa were found in the epididymal duct of all specimens analyzed, corroborating other studies (Viana et al 2013, Olukole et al 2014).…”

“…The histological morphology of the epididymis head in T. scripta elegans, with presence of ductuli efferentes and epididymal duct interspersed with connective tissue was similar to that of other turtles (Cabral et al 2011b, Viana et al 2013, Olukole et al 2014. The ductuli efferentes are responsible for the transport of spermatozoa from the testis to the epididymis, and present epithelium capable of reabsorbing more than 90% of the luminal fluid, increasing the concentration of spermatozoa entering the epididymis (Hansen et al 2004).…”

“…The ductuli efferentes are responsible for the transport of spermatozoa from the testis to the epididymis, and present epithelium capable of reabsorbing more than 90% of the luminal fluid, increasing the concentration of spermatozoa entering the epididymis (Hansen et al 2004). In T. scripta elegans, groups of three to 10 ductuli efferentes were observed, as in hamsters (3-10; Ford Junior et al 2014), mammals (5-10; Acharya et al 2015), and Pelusios castaneus (5-8;Olukole et al 2014), whereas the observed simple columnar epithelium differed from the pseudostratified columnar epithelium with areas of ciliated and non-ciliated cells in P. geoffroanus (Cabral et al 2011b); of the simple cuboidal epithelium in K. scorpioides (Viana et al 2013), and of the pseudostratified columnar epithelium in Pelusios castaneus (Olukole et al 2014). In contrast, presence of smooth muscle tissue and loose connective tissue surrounding the ductuli efferentes, irregular contour, and empty lumen were also observed in these species.…”

“…In contrast, presence of smooth muscle tissue and loose connective tissue surrounding the ductuli efferentes, irregular contour, and empty lumen were also observed in these species. In T. scripta elegans, the epididymal duct showed simple columnar epithelium, contrasting with the pseudostratified columnar epithelium in P. geoffroanus (Cabral et al 2011b), with epithelium varying between pseudostratified columnar and simple cuboidal in K. scorpioides (Viana et al 2013), and with the pseudostratified columnar epithelium in Pelusios castaneus (Olukole et al 2014). Alike to these species, the epididymal duct in T. scripta elegans was surrounded by smooth muscle tissue and loose connective tissue, the epithelium was composed of principal and basal cells, and the lumen was filled with spermatozoa.…”

Histological description of the reproductive tract of male and female hatchlings of the Magdalena river turtle (Podocnemis lewyana).

“…Histologically, the testes are formed by a series of seminiferous tubules with germ cells developing into sperm cells or spermatozoa. When the turtle reaches sexual maturity these sperm cells enter into a series of smaller ducts, known as the rete testis, which then move into the epididymal ducts, and then into the duct deferens towards the penis (Gribbins et al, 2003;Holmes and Gist, 2004;Pagliarini Cabral et al, 2011). On the other hand, the reproductive system of females is formed by a pair of ovaries, an oviduct, and the suspensory ligaments.…”