The postnatal development of the ductus deferens and ampulla in bulls.
This investigation includes the study of the morphological changes in the vas deferens and ampulla of bulls from birth to the age of 68 weeks old. The undulated epithelial lining of the ductus deferens in the adult bull was found to result from several processes observed in sequence of events up to the age 48 weeks. These processes include the formation of the intraepithelial vacuoles in the peripheral cells, which later on rupture, leading to the development of undulated epithelium. However, the basal cells of the epithelial lining do not undergo any change, moreover they do not share in any way in the formation of the intraepithelial vacuoles. The thickness of the mucosa and the muscular layers showed a gradual increase until the age of 48 weeks. The lamina of the central duct and the alveoli of the ampullary gland showed a gradual histomorphological changes in their structure from the age of 12 weeks till puberty. However, the postnatal increment in weight, diameter of the ampulla and thickness of the mucosa denote a constant growth process up to the age of 48 weeks.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000254:growth & development*