POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAT’S EPIDIDYNIIS (LIGHT MICROSCOPIC STUDY)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Assiut University

Abstract

This study was carried out to follow up the postnatal development of the
epididymis in cats. A total number of twenty cats was used at the ages of
one week, one, three and six months as well as adult cats. Some
specimens were prepared for routine histological examination and
stained with haematoxylin and eosin while others were prepared for
making semithin sections. The results showed that the epithelial cells of
all regions of the epididymis were undifferentiated at the age of one
week. At the age of one month differentiation occurred by the
appearance of “halo” cells and 2 types of dark cells. While at the three
month of age basal cells appeared. At the age of 6 month, expansion of
the epididymal tubules occurred with the appearance of narrow cells,
apical cells and clear cells and also the principal cells became
difierentiated. No sperms were observed at this age. In adult cat, sperms
appeared in the epididymal lumen with more development of principal
cells and disappearance of narrow cells from corpus and caudal regions.
The results also revealed differences in the epithelial height of the
epididymal tubules, diameter of the lumen, length of stereocilia and
peritubular smooth muscle cells of the three regions of the epididymis.

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