Aspects of the functional morphology of the ductus epididymidis in domestic anseriform and galliform birds.
The structure of the ductus epididymidis, and its capacity to take up luminal particulate material (India ink) were studied, using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, in the domestic fowl, turkey and Japanese quail (Order Galliformes) and drake (Order Anseriformes). The epithelium appeared contractile and stable structurally, especially in the drake in which, among other cytoskeletal features, abundant perinuclear intermediate filaments radiated peripherally in the principal, nonciliated (Type III) cell. The Golgi complex was well developed, except in the turkey in which it was extremely inconspicuous. Sparsely granulated profiles were the main component of the elaborate endoplasmic reticulum, which was best developed in the drake and least in the turkey. The cell in the turkey was uniquely laden with large aggregates of lipid droplets. Generally, characteristics of a cell active in the synthesis and merocrine secretion of proteinaceous material were evident. There was no evidence of apocrine-like secretion in well-fixed tissues. The cell lacked the capacity to take up luminal India ink particles, and displayed very poorly developed endocytic structural features, which are also probably only selectively and minimally absorptive. Ultrastructural features varied between and within the orders studied, necessitating further studies.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
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D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D014422:Turkeys / Q000033:anatomy & histology*