Vas Deferens Surface Epithelium of Agouti paca: Fine Structural Features

Abstract

SUMMARY:The surface epithelium of the vas deferens of Agouti paca, a wild and large South American rodent, was basically formed by principal and basal cells being only the principal cells related to endocytosis processes and also secretion taking base on their cytoplasmic ultrastructural features. Principal cell of vas deferens epithelium were characterized mainly by presence of vesicles with several shapes, sizes and internalized content at their apical cytoplasm occurring smaller pits and pale small vesicles seen next to the apical brush border of microvillus. Moreover, coated vesicles, smooth surface vesicles and great vesicles; multivesicular bodies, endosomes and lysosomes were seen. Presence of an apocrine secretory apparatus was also viewed, showing apical cytoplasmic expansions protruding into the vas deferens luminal compartment. The basal flattened cells, without luminal surface contact, occurred next to the basement membrane of the ductus, and did no exhibit special ultrastructural features.

Some Comparative Immunohistochemical Studies on the Ductus Deferens in the Donkey (Equus asinus) and Water Buffalo Bull (Bubalus bubalis).

“…Although previous studies on the epididymis of both corresponding species (Alkafafy, 2009;) displayed positive GalTase-IR, the distribution pattern showed interspecies differences. Unlike the buffalo, the cauda epididymidis of the donkey expressed a strong IR suggesting that the distal segments of the male excurrent ducts, including the DD, may present some secretory activities (Manin et al, 1995;Orsi et al, 2009). Contrarily, in human; the GalTase activity was high in the intermediate caput and proximal corpus regions, but maintained low in cauda epididymidis and the vas deferens (Ross et al, 1993).…”

“…The ductus deferens (DD) plays a key role in male fertility by providing an appropriate luminal environment for sperm before ejaculation (Hoffer, 1976;Silber, 1989;Carlin et al, 2002; Ductus deferens of donkey & buffalo Alkafafy et al al., 2007;Orsi et al, 2009). Moreover, it was reported that DD has a complex epithelium (Setchell and Brooks, 2006), showing absorptive, synthetic and secretory activities in rodents (Chinoy, 1985;Manin et al, 1995;Orsi et al, 2009) and in humans (Hoffer, 1976).…”

“…The ductus deferens (DD) plays a key role in male fertility by providing an appropriate luminal environment for sperm before ejaculation (Hoffer, 1976;Silber, 1989;Carlin et al, 2002; Ductus deferens of donkey & buffalo Alkafafy et al al., 2007;Orsi et al, 2009). Moreover, it was reported that DD has a complex epithelium (Setchell and Brooks, 2006), showing absorptive, synthetic and secretory activities in rodents (Chinoy, 1985;Manin et al, 1995;Orsi et al, 2009) and in humans (Hoffer, 1976). Thus, the DD is not only a passage for sperm transport (Setchell and Brooks, 2006), but also is an important organ contributing positively to the conservation of sperm structure, maturation, survival and viability (Chinoy, 1985;Silber, 1989;Carlin et al, 2002).…”

Duration of Spermatogenesis and Spermatogenic Efficiency in 2 Large Neotropical Rodent Species: The Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and Paca (Agouti paca)

“…In comparison with animals from the Myomorpha suborder, rodent species belonging to the Hystricomorpha suborder have a greater body weight (Table 6). Capybaras and pacas, in particular, are the largest rodents alive (Henrique‐Silva et al, 2007; Orsi et al, 2009). However, except for chinchillas, the ratio between testis mass and body weight (GSI) for this suborder is very low (Table 6), and these 3 rodent species have a monogamous mating system, have longer life spans, produce few litters per year (generally 1–2), and have a spatulate sperm head shape (Eisenberg, 1981; Eddy and O'Brien, 1994).…”

Reproductive Technologies Used in Male Neo-Tropical Hystricomorphic Rodents

“…The vas deferens was made up of a pseudo-stratified epithelium, with a layer of connective tissue and a thick muscular layer below, comprised of smooth fibers dispersed within the inner and outer layers [ 50 ]. Principal and basal cells essentially formed the epithelium [ 56 ]. The supranuclear cytoplasm of the principal cells contained numerous lysosomes, adjacent to multi-vesicular bodies with pale or denser content, and endosomes.…”