ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 855-862.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2015.05.024

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The Histologic Characters of Testis in Aging Yak

YUAN Li-gang*,ZHU Jun-feng,GU Lai-feng,YAN Zhen-long   

  1. (College of Veterinary Medicine,Gansu Agricultural University,Lanzhou 730070,China)
  • Received:2014-09-01 Online:2015-05-23 Published:2015-05-23

Abstract:

This study was conducted to characterize the histologic structure of aging yak testis.The testis of aging yak in age from 9 to 13 years old were prepared for light and electron microscopy by histochemistry and transmission electron methods.The volume and weight of aging yak left testis were slightly larger than the right,and the observations made with the light microscope were obvious morphological changes of aging,the Leydig cells were scattered in the interstitial connective tissue which were abundant with collagen and reticular fiber between the seminiferous tubules,there were partly progressive regressed in the seminiferous epithelium and the epithelium were constructed 2-5 layers with contained large intercellular,the spermatogenic cells partially desquamated and Sertoli cells were low with less cytoplasm.The electron microscopic studies show that the Sertoli cells were irregularly shaped nuclei and the endoplasmic reticulum were represented as a loose,vesiculated network,and the lysosomes were large in shape and few in number.The typical morphological configuration of the blood-testis barrier as microfilaments constructed by the typical ectoplasmic specialization and actin filament between the adjacent Sertoli cells were not seen in aged yak.Partial lamina propria of seminiferous epithelium was shrinkage and hyperplasia of collagen fiber.The lipid droplets in Leydig cells were very rich,occasionally,the mast cell can be seen in the interstitial tissue.Moreover,there are closely connection between the adjacent interstitial capillary endothelial cells and the positive reaction of PAS and AB-PAS were obviously present throughout the basement membranes and the wall of interstitial blood vessels.Taken together,the structural abnormalities in Sertoli cells,the connection defects in blood-testis barrier and the basement membrane may affect the interaction between Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells,thereby the functions of aging yak testis were inhibited.

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