Histological Structure of Testes and Ductus Epididymis of Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis)

Abstract

Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) raising farm has been highly increasing in numbers during the last decade in Thailand. The velvet is needed in the ancient Chinese medicinal composition and the meat for consumption. The appropriate time of mating in rusa deer of tropical climate as Thailand is still undetermined since various reports indicated that the climate zone influenced the different mating period. This study was mainly aimed to preliminary observed the histological structure of testes and epididymis of rusa deer in the rutting period. Testes of 2 mature rusa deer age 2 and a half years old were collected during October - November 2005 at the slaughter house of Kasertsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus. The tissue embedded in paraffin blocks were then cut approximately 5mm in thickness and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E). The samples were examined under light microscope. The testes were covered by fibrous connective tissue of the tunica albuginea. The testicular tissue consisted of packed seminiferous tubules. The interstitium composed of loose areolar connective tissue surrounding basement membrane of seminiferous tubules. The lumen of seminiferous tubules displayed various spermatogenic cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. Male genital ducts were divided into 4 regions namely, Rete testis, Ductuli efferentes, Ductuli epididymides and Ductus epididymis. In the part of Ductus epidymis are pseudostratified stereocilliated columnar epithelium cell.