SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE MORPHOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE GENITAL ORGANS OF THE MALE ONE-HUMPED CAMEL

The different seasonal changes in the morphology and histology fo the genital organs of the male one-humped camel were studied. A total of 24 pairs of testes together with the correspon ding epididymides and the relating body of the prostate gland, collected from adult healthy male camels, were examined morpho logically and histologically. A high significant (P/0.01) increase in both testicular weight and size was detected during Spring and Winter against Summer. The epididymal weight during Spring was high significantly (P/ 0.01) and significantly (P/ 0.05) in creased than those of Summer and Winter respectively. Statistica lly non significant increase in the weight of the body of prostate was detected during Spring against Summer and Winter. Histolo gically, complete normal spermatogenic cycle and increased interstitial tissue were observed in the testes during Spring and Winter. The average diameter of the serminiferous tubules during Spring was 216 um and it was 198 um in Winter, 186 um during Autumn and 168 um in Summer. The epididymides showed columnar epithelial cell lining with large number of spermatozoa in the lumen during Spring, against homogenous acidophilic epididymal plasma in the lumen during Summer. The histological examination of the prostate revealed marked activity during Spring and Winter.