Postnatal development of the cat's epididymis [light microscopic study] [with 20 figures]

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to follow up the postnatal development of the epididymis in cats. A total number of twenty cats was used at the ages of one week, one, three and six months as well as adult cats. Some specimens were prepared for routine histological examination and stained with haematoxylin and eosin while others were prepared for making semithin sections. The results showed that the epithelial cells of all regions of the epididymis were undifferentiated at the age of one week. At the age of one month differentiation occurred by the appearance of "halo" cells and 2 types of dark cells. While at the three month of age basal cells appeared. At the age of 6 month, expansion of the epididymal tubules occurred with the appearance of narrow cells, apical cells and clear cells and also the principal cells became differentiated. No sperms were observed at this age. In adult cat, sperms appeared in the epididymal lumen with more development of principal cells and disappearance of narrow cells from corpus and caudal regions. The results also revealed differences in the epithelial height of the epididymal tubules, diameter of the lumen, length of stereocilia and peritubular smooth muscle cells of the three regions of the epididymis