INTERTUBULAR TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TESTIS OF DONKEY

SUMMARY The intertubular topography of the donkey testes was studied morphometrically in perfusion-fixed testes of eleven animals ranging from 2-9 years of age, in the summer season. The intertubular cell population is composed of Leydig cells, fibrocytes, monocytes and macrophages. These cellular elements form about 4% of the intertubular spaces in 2-year old donkey, and become 8% at age of 6 years, then decline to about 6% at the age of nine years. The intertubular spaces contain, in addition to the cellular mass, blood vessels and lymphatics. The latter have the largest percentage in all ages studied. Lymphatic vessels are believed to play a larger role in the testicular androgen distribution.