Comparative Study Of The Morphology Of The Testes And Excurrent Ducts System In The Unilateral Cryptorchid West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

Laboratory investigations were carried out to study the comparative morphology of testes and the excurrent ducts system in the unilateral crytorchid West African dwarf goats. Two groups of 10 bucks were used: Prepubertal (2-4 months old; pubertal groups (5-8 months old).The result showed that the retained testis had a progressive significant reduction (P<0.05) in the seminiferous tubular diameters from the prepubertal to the pubertal goats and a reduction in the number of spermatogenic cells and increasing number of degenerating sertoli cells. Epididymis of the intra-abdominal testis showed significant increase (P<0.05) in the lumen diameter. The epithelia were flattened, occasionally cuboidal and were devoid of characteristic stereocilia. The vas deferens had poorly developed longitudinal folds and smooth muscles. It was however concluded that the alterations observed in the morphology of the intra-abdominal testes and the excurrent system compared to the contralateral scrotal testis were progressive and age dependent.

Keywords: Unilateral cryptorchidism, Testes, Excurrent ducts, Goat, Epididymis

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (3) 2007 pp. 40-47