Morphological aspects of the funiculus spermaticus of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

ABSTRACT

In a morphologic study of 43 pairs of spermatic cordsof adult Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), histology showed that in three pairs their components were covered by a thin mesothelial capsule. Under this capsule there was a dense layer of adipose tissue completely surrounding the spermatic cord. The componentswere covered by loose connective tissue showing a prevalence of a collagen fibers among reticular and elastic fibers. The testicular artery varied in diameter and showed a thick tunica media with muscle fibers sustained by a network of reticular fibers; the tunica interna consisted of endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue and a well-defined internal elastic membrane; the tunica externa or adventitia was formed by connective tissue, becoming a part of the adventitial layer of the testicular veins and intervascular connective tissue. The testicular veins formed the pampiniform plexus, which partially envelops the artery, have a wide and irregular lumina, thin walls made up almost exclusively of endothelium, have no valves and show a conspicuous relationship with the artery. The deferent duct was peripheral to the subcapsular adipose tissue, which partly surrounded it, and was joined by arterioles, venules, lymphatics and nerves. The segment of testicular artery obtained with the use of Neoprene latex "450" from 80 samples, corresponding to 40 pairs of spermatic cords, showed a winding course and a medium, maximum, and minimal lenght of 3.97, 6.2 and 2.4 cm, respectively, with a standard left and righ deviation of 3.88,5.7 and 1.8. These values showed no significant differences at the 5(per cent) level.