Abstract
This study investigated the morphology and immunoexpression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1 and 9 in the rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens in the Azara’s agouti (Dasyprocta azarae). For this purpose, ten adult sexually mature animals were used in histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. The Azara’s agouti rete testis was labyrinthine and lined with simple cubic epithelium. Ciliated and non-ciliated cells were observed in the epithelium of the efferent ducts. The epididymal cellular population was composed of principal, basal, apical, clear, narrow, and halo cells. The epithelium lining of vas deferens was composed of the principal and basal cells. AQPs 1 and 9 were not expressed in the rete testis. Positive reaction to AQP1 was observed at the luminal border of non-ciliated cells of the efferent ducts, and in the peritubular stroma and blood vessels in the epididymis, and vas deferens. AQP9 was immunolocalized in the epithelial cells in the efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens. The morphology of Azara’s agouti testis excurrent ducts is similar to that reported for other rodents such as Cuniculus paca. The immunolocalization results of the AQPs suggest that the expression of AQPs is species-specific due to differences in localization and expression when compared to studies in other mammals species. The knowledge about the expression of AQPs in Azara’s agouti testis excurrent ducts is essential to support future reproductive studies on this animal, since previous studies show that AQPs may be biomarkers of male fertility and infertility.
Highlights
The absorptive and secretory capacities of the epithelial cells lining the male excurrent ducts create an appropriate microenvironment for the sperm maturation process
The present study investigated the morphology by light microscopy and immunoexpression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1 and 9 in the rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens of the Azara’s agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) aiming to fill a gap in the literature about the agouti male reproductive tract
The distribution of cell types in the epididymal epithelium differs slightly from that described for other species, in general, the morphology presented by the Azara’s agouti
Summary
The absorptive and secretory capacities of the epithelial cells lining the male excurrent ducts create an appropriate microenvironment for the sperm maturation process. Between 50 and 80% of the testicular fluid is reabsorbed in the efferent ducts (Clulow et al, 1994), but a considerable reabsorption activity occurs in the epididymis (Da Silva et al, 2006). This reflects a significant increase in sperm concentration when the fluid transits towards the distal regions of the epididymis, establishing a hypertonic luminal fluid (Levine and Marsh, 1971).
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