Developmental Changes in Histology and Histochemistry of Epididymal Ducts in Korean Native Goats I. Histological changes in epididymal ducts

한국재래산양 정소상체관의 발육에 따른 조직 및 조직화학적 변화 I. 정소상체관의 조직학적 변화

This study was conducted in order to obtain the information of the histological changes in each of six segments of the epididymal ducts in Korean native goats. Thirty-two Korean native male goats were examined, dividing into seven groups, at 4 weeks intervals from 8 to 32 weeks of age. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The epididymal ducts showed histologically an abrupt growth at the age of 16 weeks being followed by almost full maturation at the age of 24 weeks. Diameter of the cauda was steadily larger than that of the caput and corpus of the epididymal ducts. 2. Spermatozoa in the lumen of epididymal ducts were first observable at the age of 16 weeks, thereafter showing sparse in the lumen of caput, whereas most dense in the lumen of cauda in the density of spermatozoa. 3. Ducts in the caput and corpus were lined by ciliated columnar epithelium until the age of 12 weeks, and later by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium which was composed of ciliated columnar cells, clear cells and basal cells. Ducts of cauda epididymis were lined by simple ciliated columnar epithelia until 12 weeks of age and later by simple or pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, and two types of ducts (small ducts with high epithelium and large ducts with lower epithelium) were noted. Nucleus of the epithelial cells in the caput were located in the base of cells but in the corpus and cauda, those were located in the mid part of cells. cilia were most developed in the epithelia of the corpus.