Histological Observations of the Reproductive Organs of the Male Dog from Birth to Sexual Maturity

摘要

References(30) Cited-By(13) Development of the testis, epididymis and prostate in 53 male beagles was examined histologically with PAS-hematoxylin stain from birth to sexual maturity. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules of the testes was less than 100μm until 20 weeks of age, however, it increased markedly between 22 and 28 week of age, reaching 180±7 (mean±SD) μm at 28 weeks of age. Only Sertoli cells and gonocytes (or spermatogonia) were detected in the seminiferous tubules until 16 weeks of age. Spermatocytes and spermatids appeared in the tubules at 20 and 22 weeks of age, respectively. Spermatozoa were first observed in the testes of 2 of the 5 dogs at 26 weeks of age and were found in the testes of all the 3 dogs at 28 weeks of age. The diameter of the ducts in the cauda epididymidis was 146±4 μm at 20 weeks of age. Thereafter it increased markedly, reaching 341±14μm at 28 weeks of age. The height of the epithelium and stereocilia in the ducts of the caput epididymidis increased markedly at about 28 weeks of age. A large number of spermatozoa was seen in the lumens of the ducts of the corpus and cauda epididymidis after 32 weeks of age. The shape of the lumens in the glandular alveoli of the prostate became irregular as a result of projection of the glandular epithelium into the enlarged lumens and the epithelial cells of the alveoli became PAS-positive at 24 weeks of age. The projection of the glandular epithelium into the lumen became more marked after 32 weeks of age. Thus it was demonstrated that histological development of the testis, epididymis and prostate of the dog is most marked between 20 and 32 weeks of age.