Abstract
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research was to study the histology and describe the microscopy findings of the epididymis epithelium of greater Rhea americana at three time periods: November 2005 (n=14), December 2006 (n= 20), and May 2007 (n= 20), to observe and compare the differences that occurred. We studied the epididymis from 54 rheas, bred in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The epididymis were collected during commercial slaughter and fixed in bouin. Optical microscopy was used to measure the cellular structure, types of cells, tubules, and stereological values like the epididymis epithelium diameters, lumen, thickness, and relative volume of the tissue structure. Additionally, electron microscopy was studied. In December 2006 and May 2007, the means of the epididymis tubular diameter were: 79.1 and 58.1 µm, epithelium thickness: 24.0 and 52.2 µm, and lumen diameter: 55.0 and 5.8 µm, respectively. Regarding the volumetric proportion, we reported the following values: epithelium volume 36.2 and 80.4%, lumen without spermatozoon 19.6 and 3.0%, lumen with spermatozoon 5.4 and 0.0%, interstitium 35.4 and 12.0%, blood vessels 3.5 and 4.6%, structures in cellular superficies 1.4 and 0%, lamina 1.4 and 3.2%, and artifacts 0.3 and 1.3%, respectively. The epididymis ducts had a circular form in transverse sections with spermatozoon only in November 2005 and December 2006. The Rhea’s epididymis morphology was found to be similar to ostriches, roosters, and Japanese quail. Here, we present data from stereological microscopy (tubular diameter, epithelium thickness, and lumen diameter), volumetric proportion (epithelium, lumen without spermatozoon, lumen with spermatozoon, interstitium, blood vessels, structures in cellular superficies; cilium, estereocilium, and lamina) in this species during the repose and sexual activity period (reproductive season).
Highlights
Epididymal morphology knowledge helps in understanding the reproduction of a determined species and spermatozoid maturity
There were some differences, for instance, cellular types that form in the epididymal duct (TINGARI, 1971; BUDRAS & SAUER, 1975; HESS et al, 1976; HESS & THURSTON, 1977; AIRE, 1979; AIRE et l., 1979; AIRE, 1980; BUDRAS AND MEIER, 1981; AIRE, 1982a; AIRE, 1982b)
In the transition between the Rete testis and the epididymis, we observed that areas are mainly separated by fibrous connective tissue and collagen fibers (Figure 2)
Summary
Epididymal morphology knowledge helps in understanding the reproduction of a determined species and spermatozoid maturity. The epididymis has not been studied in the Greater Rhea. Differences between the epididymis of Galliformes and Anseriformes have been reported (BAKST, 1980), Approved 10.09.20 Returned CR-2019-0222.R3 by the author 02.08.2C1 iência. V.51, n.7, demonstrating that the epididymis is not the same in all bird species. The epididymis of the Rhea americana has not yet been studied with microscopic morphology. This research aimed to study the morphology and describe the microscopy findings of the Greater Rhea’s epididymis at three distinct periods of the year. We intend to provide reference subsidies for other researches, assisting in the understanding of spermatozoid maturation and its relationship to the fertility of the Rhea americana
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