Reproductive tract morphology and symmetry of farmed common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) bulls, and their relationship with secondary sexual traits and social rank.

Common eland bulls are important game ranching animals in southern Africa, for tourism, breeding/live sales, trophy hunting, and game meat production. Interest has grown in their production potential, intensifying animal husbandry and breeding approaches. However, little scientific information is available regarding the intensive management of this species, including information regarding scientifically based selection criteria for breeding bulls. Often, simple phenotypic traits are utilised unless high-value game animals are being bred, with horn and body size often being the only traits considered for breeding bulls. This study provides basic information about the reproductive tract morphology, symmetry, and their relationships with secondary sexual traits, social rank, and temperament in common eland. Six eland males (2-2.5 years old; 203 ± 20 kg) were utilised for the study. Social rank, body weight and body condition score, temperament score, and horn size were determined before the animals were culled, and their reproductive tracts were collected for morphometric and histological evaluation. Results indicate relatively low asymmetry in bilateral reproductive tract components. Individual traits of eland bulls such as age, body weight, and social rank correlated the development of some testicular morphologies and thus may possibly be used in zoos, game ranching, and commercial production for the selection of breeding males, but not temperament and horn length, which should be carefully evaluated. Whilst this study provides baseline information from a limited sample size, further studies should incorporate the assessment of testicular hemodynamics, as well as the effects of factors such as season and androgen secretion patterns over a wider age range of common eland males and populations to provide further information for the management practices of breeding common eland bulls.

Morphology of the male reproductive system and sperm of Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas, 1852) (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

Taxonomic data on Coreidae have been fragmented over time and need to be revised. Likewise, data related to the development of germ cells and the features of the male reproductive system, including sperm, will contribute to understanding the biological mechanisms of reproduction and the systematics of its representatives. Aiming to provide these data, we describe the morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Leptoglossus zonatus using light and transmission electron microscopies, respectively. Each of the two testes is surrounded by a bright red-pigmented sheath and formed by seven follicles arranged side by side. The two vasa deferentia are filled with individualized sperm, especially in their final portion, which is dilated and curved. After dilation, the vasa deferentia receive the ducts of the accessory glands of mesodermal origin. The other unpaired accessory gland is of ectodermal origin and opens into the ejaculatory duct. Both glandular types are densely coiled and have lumens filled with secreted material. Testicular follicles contain cysts with germ cells at different stages of spermatogenesis, indicating continuous production of gametes throughout adult life. Mature sperm measure around 310 µm long, with a nucleus of 36 µm and a flagellum formed only by an axoneme of 9 + 9 + 2 microtubules and two symmetrical mitochondrial derivatives. Like the sperm of other Heteroptera, the acrosome has a single structure (without perforatorium), there are no accessory bodies in the flagella, and the mitochondrial derivatives are connected to the axonemes, supporting the synapomorphic condition of these characteristics for this suborder of bedbugs. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The Leptoglossus zonatus sperm are slender and long, about 310 µm in length, and a nucleus 36 µm long. Spermatogenesis occurs throughout adult life and equally in the seven testicular follicles. The centriole adjunct in L. zonatus sperm does not give rise to accessory bodies. The ectodermal gland produces a filamentous secretion, whereas in the ectodermal sac, the secretion is globular.

Sperm morphology and testicular histology of the polyandric species Leptodactylus podicipinus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from an urban environment.

Anurans have a high reproductive diversity, which is closely associated with testicular dynamics and sperm production. This variety in reproduction is modulated by the sexual characteristics of reproductive strategies, such as polyandry. Leptodactylus podicipinus has high reproductive plasticity, wide geographical distribution, and polyandric behavior. Although aspects of the testes and sperm of this species are known, knowledge about the relationship between these aspects and reproductive investment is scarce. The present study evaluated the morphological characteristics of the testes and sperm in an urban environment. We used 11 sexually mature males from the city of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The specimens were obtained from night excursions between April and September, the months that constitute the post-rainy season. The biometric data (snout-vent length, testes, and body mass) were associated with sperm parameters (length of the spermatozoon head and tail). Stereological analyses of sperm morphology and the testes were performed. The results showed correlations between testis mass and spermatozoon length, which were positively related to head length and negatively related to tail length. The locular area and tail length were also negatively correlated. The percentage of normal spermatozoa was 97%; however, some sperm heads and tails exhibited different morphologies from the pattern described for the species. The germinative structure comprised more than 50% of the locular area composed of spermatozoa. The results of this study contribute to the knowledge of aspects related to the reproductive biology of L. podicipinus obtained from an urban environment.

The ultrastructure of spermatogenic cells and morphological evaluation of testicular development in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus).

The silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) is a widely distributed and economically important marine fish in the Indo-Pacific. In this study, we acquired the second generation of wild P. argenteus by artificial breeding and further studied the testicular development and ultrastructure of spermatogenesis. The results of gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed the spawning period of this marine fish was from April to June. Besides, through morphological analysis, we found that P. argenteus had an anastomosing tubular testis surrounded by a layer of tunica albuginea, in which spermatogenesis occurred in cysts where the synchronous germ cells were completely surrounded by the cytoplasmic projection of Sertoli cells. Meanwhile, based on submicroscopic characteristics, the germ cells are classified into nine different types. During the ontogenesis of testis, both the early stage of spermatogenesis and sperm were observed in P. argenteus. At sperm maturation stage, different types of spermatozoa and activation of sperms occurred non-synchronously in the tubules. Cytoplasmic bridges also were observed among synchronous germ cells within the cysts, suggesting an interrelated and differentiated relationship among these germ cells.

Assessment of age-related morphological changes in the testes of post-hatch light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken.

The age-related morphological changes of the testes in light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken were evaluated in this study using gross anatomical, histological and histomorphometric techniques. The results showed that the testes of 3- to 9-month-old birds were light pink while testes of sexually mature chicken were creamy white in colour. The left and right testicular weight, length, diameter, circumference and the organosomatic indices increased significantly (p < .05) with increasing age across the groups. Although the mean tubular diameter and epithelial height of the left and right seminiferous tubules increased significantly (p < .05) with age, the tubular diameter, epithelial height and luminal diameter did not vary significantly (p > .05) between the left and right testes of all the groups. The one-cell layer thick germinal epithelium of the left testes at 3 to 6 months old showed islands of cell proliferation that contained spermatogonia and spermatocytes. At 6 to 9 months, the left testes exhibited numerous early spermatids with occasional occurrence of late stage spermatids while the right testes showed scanty early stage spermatids. At 12 to 18 months, the germinal epithelia of both left and right testes were characterized by the presence of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, numerous early and late stage spermatids as well as spermatozoa. In conclusion, the morphological features highlighted in the present study show that at pre-pubertal periods, the left testes may develop faster than the right testes. However, both left and right testes may participate actively in the production of spermatozoa during the post-pubertal life.

Neonatal maternal separation causes decreased numbers of sertoli cell, spermatogenic cells, and sperm in mice.

Neonatal maternal separation is an experimental model used to evaluate the effects of toxic stress in neonates, or early life stress. Although various physiological and psychological stresses during childhood have been reported, the effects of neonatal maternal separation on the male reproductive system remain unclear. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of neonatal maternal separation on the male reproductive system. In neonatal male ICR mice, maternal separation was performed for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours/day, from postnatal day 1 to 10. At 10 weeks of age, the neonatal maternal separation mice exhibited decreases in both testicular weight and epididymal sperm number, along with various testicular morphological changes involving germ cells, Sertoli cells, and interstitial cells. Notably, neonatal maternal separation mice showed decreased numbers of Sertoli cells. Animals subjected to 0.5-, 1-, and 2-h/day neonatal maternal separation exhibited decreases in serum levels of testosterone but not in those of gonadotropin (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone). Together, these data showed that neonatal maternal separation in male mice causes decreased Sertoli cell numbers following puberty, resulting in subsequent decreased spermatogenic activity.

Aspects of spermatogenesis and microscopic testicular morphology in Greater Rhea, Rhea americana (Linnaeus, 1758) / Aspectos da espermatogênese e morfologia microscópica testicular em Emas, Rhea americana (Linnaeus, 1758)

The purpose of this study was to study the microscopic morphology of the testicular parenchyma of Rhea americana birds. Fifty-four 2.5±0.5 year-old male adults bred in captivity. were used. During commercial slaughter, samples of testis were collected in November/2005, December/2006 and May/2007, in order to compare possible differences. The samples underwent optical microscopy analysis and measurements of seminiferous tubule (ST) total diameters, lumen, epithelium thickness and the relative volume of parenchyma. The ST had circular form in transverse cross sections. November/2005 and December/2006 samples had many types of germinative cells and spermatozoa in lumen, but in May/2007 the samples of epithelium were poor regarding meiotic and mitotic pictures, and it was difficult to find any spermatozoon; in many tubules the lumen was inexistent or diminished. In December/2006 and May/2007 the averages were: tubule diameter 110.3 and 5.3mµ, lumen 52.4 and 4.5mµ, epithelium thickness 57.8 and 0.7mµ respectively. The volumetric proportions were: seminiferous epithelium 75.6 and 75.9, cysts in epithelium 2.1 and 1.0, ST 93.3 and 84.0, interstitium 6.2 and 15.6 respectively. The sperm reserves were: 19.7±2 and 0±0 x109 sperm cells in December 2006 and May 2007 respectively. Microscopic measures of seminiferous tubules, spermatic cells and diameter of the nuclei were presented. These data confirm reproductive seasonality, with breeding season in spring-summer with sperm production. A great variation n parenchyma, when compared breeding was noticeable.(AU)

O objetivo do estudo foi estudar a morfologia microscópica do parênquima testicular de emas (Rhea americana). Foram utilizados 54 machos adultos criados em cativeiro de 2,5±0,5 anos de idade. Durante o abate comercial foram coletadas amostras de testículos em novembro/2005, dezembro/2006 e maio/2007, para efeitos de comparação. As amostras foram processadas e para microscopia ótica de rotina para análise. Foram medidas diâmetro total de túbulos seminíferos (ST), lúmen, espessura do epitélio e a proporção volumétrica dos componentes do parênquima. O ST apresentou forma circular nas seções transversais. Em novembro/2005 e dezembro/2006, se observaram os tipos de células germinativas e espermatozoides no lúmen. Em maio/2007, as amostras de epitélio se observaram escassas meioses e imagens de mitose e era difícil de ver qualquer espermatozoide, em muitos dos túbulos o lúmen era inexistentes ou diminuído de tamanho. Em dezembro/2006 e maio/2007, as médias das características estudadas foram: diâmetro dos túbulos 110,3 e 5,3 mµ, lúmen 52,4 e 4,5mµ, espessura do epitélio 57,8 e 0,7mµ, respectivamente. As proporções volumétricas foram: epitélio seminífero 75,6 e 75,9, cistos no epitélio 2,1 e 1,0, túbulos seminíferos 93,3 e 84,0, interstício 6,2 e 15,6, respectivamente. Foram apresentadas medidas microscópicas de túbulos seminíferos, diâmetro dos núcleos das espermátides. Estes dados confirmam a sazonalidade reprodutiva, com época de reprodução na primavera - verão, com a produção de esperma. Foi perceptível uma grande variação nas medidas do parênquima testicular, quando se comparou a estação reprodutiva.(AU)

Testicular morphology in spontaneously hypertensive rat model: oxidant status and stereological implications.

Studies by researchers suggest that reductions in blood flow to the testis could play an important role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. As this oxygen-dependent organ functions in a state of near anoxia, such a decrease in blood flow may very likely have profound effects on the tissue morphology that ultimately would predispose to various forms of hypo-spermatogenesis with consequent compromise in reproductive capability. With varying opinions expressed by experts as to the actual culprit or potential pathway and/or effects of pathophysiology of testicular haemodynamics, it still remains debatable whether the observed degenerative changes in testicular tissue are the result of major or minor reductions in flow or the consequence of other vascular pathologies or even extraneous factors. Again, increasing age and male gender have been identified as the single independent risk factors for the occurrence of cardiovascular pathologies with sexual dimorphism highly debated. The investigation of these factors occurring under hypertensive states using the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) as an experimental model has attracted substantial attention in recent past. This review examines the relationships and potential morphologic changes in the testicular tissue under conditions of perturbations in blood flow as seen in the SHR with a view to the proper understanding of the role(s) of various factors that contributes to male subfertility. A suggestion to the use of stereological methods for quantitating various measurements in a highly active and dynamic structure like the testis with its arterial system has been added as this may facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms implicated under hypertensive conditions.

Testicular histomorphologic and stereological alterations following short-term treatment with highly active antiretroviral drugs (HAART) in an experimental animal model.

The increased accessibility of antiretroviral therapy continues to positively drive the reduction in viral load and survival of patients despite the attendant reproductive toxicities. We propose that testicular damage caused by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be attenuated by antioxidant treatment by investigating the testicular histomorphologic and stereological effects of antiretroviral drugs and its interaction with antioxidants using an experimental animal model. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups of six rats per group (A, B... G) using simple random sampling and treated orally with 0.9% normal saline as placebo, a HAART cocktail of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine using the adjusted human therapeutic doses of 200, 600 and 350-400 mg/day, respectively, and antioxidants ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and I.M α-tocopherol (vitamin E). Animals were killed after 4 weeks and testicular tissue harvested and processed for light microscopy and stereological evaluations. The results were interpreted by a Veterinary pathologist blinded to the study. No animal died during the experimental period. The histopathological assessment of the testis of animals treated with placebo, ascorbic acid alone and α-tocopherol alone as well as vitamin E + HAART displayed normal testicular microanatomy. Groups treated with HAART alone, HAART + vitamin C + vitamin E and vitamins C + HAART showed extensive seminiferous tubular atrophy, necrosis and hypocellularity in the histoarchitectural patterns. While testicular cross-sectional area of seminiferous tubules remained unaffected by HAART, epithelial heights significantly decreased (p < 0.05) when compared with controls. There was marked (p < 0.05) increased in testicular-body weight ratio in HAART group. The results show that vitamin E could be useful in protecting testicular tissue from toxicities of HAART regimes as these results mirrors stereological data for the groups. HAART presents with deleterious histopathological changes in the testes causing tubular atrophy with altered morphometric indices. Supplementation with vitamin E appears to be a better adjuvant antioxidant that ameliorates these deleterious effects.

Effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection and diminazene aceturate therapy on testicular morphology and function of Nigerian local dogs.

The effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on testicular morphology and function and the changes associated with treatment of infected dogs with diminazene aceturate were studied using fifteen Nigerian adult male dogs. The dogs were randomly assigned into three groups A, B and C consisting of five dogs each. Groups A and B were infected with 1 × 10(6) trypanosomes and group C was the uninfected control. Following infection, parasitaemia levels were monitored daily whereas the rectal temperature, body weight, packed cell volume, scrotal circumference and serum testosterone levels were monitored weekly. At parasitaemia peak, dogs in group A were orchidectomised while dogs in group B were treated with 7.0mg/kg body weight of diminazene aceturate (DA). Dogs in groups B and C were later orchidectomised on day 73 of the experiment. The harvested testes and epididymides were weighed and the epididymal sperm reserves of all the dogs determined. Also the sperm quality (mass activity, sperm motility and sperm morphology) were determined. The testes were sectioned after processing and studied histomorphologically. Acute trypanosomosis was observed following infection. The low serum testosterone levels observed from day 14 post infection (pi) gradually improved following treatment. Testicular weight, epididymal weight and sperm quality were significantly low (p<0.05) in the infected dogs when compared to the control group but gradually improved following treatment. Histomorphological studies revealed testicular degeneration characterized by depopulation of seminiferous tubules and depletion of spermatogenic cells in dogs of group A whereas the tissue sections of the testes of dogs in group B were similar to those of the control group. It was therefore concluded that infection of dogs with T. brucei adversely affected testicular morphology and function. Treatment with diminazene aceturate reversed the reproductive abnormalities caused by the parasite.

Avaliação histológica dos testículos de ovinos da raça Santa Inês nascidos em diferentes estações do ano / Histological evaluation of Santa Ines sheep testicles born in different seasons

Foram analisados quatro grupos de ovinos machos da raça Santa Inês nascidos em quatro estações do ano, no Distrito Federal, a fim de observar as idades e o peso corporal em que estes atingiram a puberdade. A partir dos cortes histológicos dos testículos, foram analisados parâmetros celulares e mensurações dos túbulos seminíferos. O efeito da data de nascimento sobre os parâmetros avaliados foi significativo (P<0,01), indicando que a estação do ano influenciou as características histológicas dos testículos dos cordeiros Santa Inês. Os animais nascidos no período da seca apresentaram maior precocidade à puberdade, porém pior perfil histológico dos testículos. O final da época de águas apresentou-se como a melhor estação para nascimentos de ovinos na região Central do Brasil, com características histológicas testiculares mais desejáveis na puberdade desses animais.

Four groups of Santa Inês male sheep born in four seasons in the Distrito Federal were analyzed to evaluate the age and body weight at puberty, at which point were castrated. Histological measurements were carried out on the testicles to evaluate cellular parameters and size measurements of the seminiferous tubules. The effect of the group on cellular parameters was significant (P<0.01). Animals born in the dry season were more precocious than the others, but showed the worst histological profile of the testis. The histological traits of the testis of the Santa Inês rams were influenced by the season. The end of the rainy season was shown to the best season for births of sheep in the Central region of Brazil, with histological testicular traits at puberty being superior to the other groups.