Basic Ultrastructure and seasonal variation on the epididymis of the one humped camel [camelus dromedarius]

ABSTRACT

The basic ultrastructure and seasonal variations in the camel epididymis were studied in 6 adult male camels [3 in the summer and 3 in the winter]. Samples from the head, body and tail of the epididymis were prepared for transmission electron microscope. The head region was lined by 3 cell types, principal, ciliated and basal cells. The principal cells were the predominant cell type and characterized by large membranous vacuoles. Ciliated cells had the kinocilia, in addition to the sterocilla and basal cells characterized by ovoid nuclei having undulated nuclear envelope. On the other h and, the secretory activity of the epididymal principal cells was high in the body and to a lesser extent in the tail region of the epididymis. Regarding season variations, the activities reached its peak during the summer and its minimum during the winter, where extensive phagocytosis and degenerative changes were observed