Abstract

A total of 62 adult apparently healthy male camels reared in arid climatic conditions of the south eastern region of Algeria were used to study the morphology and histomorphometry of their testis during three different seasons (rutting: Nov-Feb, post-rutting: Mar-Jun and non-rutting: Jull-Oct). Significant high values of scrotal circumference, paired testicular weight and paired testicular volume were recorded during the rutting season. At this period, the outer and the inner diameters of the seminiferous tubules (ST) were significantly higher accompanied by dense and high seminiferous epithelium (56.42±14.52 μm) that occupied 85.50±8.45% of the ST surface. This high seasonal activity was also characterized by increased volume of ST (VST) and ratios of seminiferous tubules to interstitial area and volume (ST/IT, VST/VIT respectively). The average diameter of the Sertoli cell nuclei was significantly high during the rutting and post-rutting seasons indicates high activity of these cells compared with the non rutting season (P<0.001). The true number of Sertoli cells per paired testis was not influenced by the season. The spermatogenic activity showed a continuous process through the year, however, high level of cell proliferation were observed during the rutting and post-rutting seasons marked by high ratio of germ cells to Sertoli cells (P<0.001). Even so, the average percentage of ST containing spermatids and/or spermatozoa and the average number of spermatozoa per seminiferous tubule were higher in the rutting season (86% and 10.76 ± 9.34, P<0.05, P<0.001 respectively) compared to the rest of the year. Finally, high sperm reserves were observed in all epididymal segments during the rutting season. These results provide information on the relationship between seasonal changes of camel testicular morphology and the histomorphometry of the testicular exocrine compartment represented by the seminiferous tubules

Information

Item Type:	Journal
Divisions:	» Production animales, biotechnologie et sante » Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
ePrint ID:	663
Date Deposited:	2017-02-08
Further Information:	Google Scholar
URI:	https://www.univ-soukahras.dz/en/publication/article/663

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