HISTOLOGY, FINE STRUCTURE AND CARBOHYDRATE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE EPITHELIUM OF THE ACCESSORY MALE GENITAL GLANDS OF THE EGYPTIAN BALADI GOAT

MAREI, H; EL-HABBACK, H; ABOU-ESA, K

doi:10.21608/vmjg.2004.369285

HISTOLOGY, FINE STRUCTURE AND CARBOHYDRATE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE EPITHELIUM OF THE ACCESSORY MALE GENITAL GLANDS OF THE EGYPTIAN BALADI GOAT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Departments of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University

² Departments of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University

³ Departments of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tanta University (Kafr El-Sheikh branch)

10.21608/vmjg.2004.369285

Abstract

The histology and carbohydrate content of the epithelium of accessory male genital glands of Baladi goats in Egypt have been studied by light and electron microscopy. The histochemical methods include periodic acid-Schiff and alcian blue stain (pH 2.5 and 1.0). The results revealed that the prostatic secretory end-pieces are lined with cuboidal cells and their cytoplasm contain fine secretory granules that have an affinity for PAS and alcian blue. In some regions, the secretory cells are columnar with PAS-positive nonalcianophilic cytoplasm. The results indicated that the prostate glands are involved in the production of acid mucosubstances besides little amounts of neutral glycoproteins. Similar patterns were demonstrated in the bulbourethral glands and seminal vesicles except that there were relatively fewer or no neutral carbohydrates in the cytoplasm of the bulbourethral and vesicular epithelial cells. The acidic carbohydrates consist of at least two types: AB (pH 1.0)-reactive sulfated and AB (pH 2.5)- reactive nonsulfated. Unlike the other accessory genital glands, the secretory tubules of the ampullary glands contained a variable number of PAS- positive secretory granules indicating its neutral glycoprotein nature. A considerable number of spermatozoa was observed within the lumina of some secretory tubules of the ampullary glands. A finding might indicate that the epithelial cells of the ampullary glands are involved in development and maturation of the epididymal spermatozoa. The histochemical and fine structure of the goat accessory male genital glands indicate that their cells could be regarded as glycoprotein secreting cells and their secretory products are crucial for the normal function of sperms.

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