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The response of the male reproductive tract to vasectomy includes inflammation of the interstitial tissue of the epididymis. The pathogenesis of epididymal interstitial reactions and characteristics of the responding cells were studied by electron microscopy in Lewis rats at intervals following bilateral vasectomy, vasectomy followed 1 month later by vasovasostomy, or sham operations. In areas of interstitial reaction, numerous macrophages, monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and plasma cells occupied the connective tissue. Macrophages, containing many lysosomes and vesicles, aggregated and assumed the appearance of epithelioid cells. Processes of adjacent macrophages interdigitated with one another and closely approached the surfaces of lymphocytes. Many plasma cells with distended rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared in the interstitium. The majority of animals in the vasectomy and vasovasostomy groups exhibited epididymal interstitial changes by 2-3 months; the cauda epididymidis was the region most often affected. The ultrastructural features were indicative of chronic granulomatous inflammation and were consistent with an immune response that includes antigen presentation by macrophages to lymphocytes, lymphocyte differentiation, and local antibody production by plasma cells. The nearly complete absence of sperm or recognizable parts thereof in the interstitial tissue in the areas of the reactions suggests that these lesions formed in response to soluble antigens leaking from the duct. Vasovasostomy was not effective in reversing or retarding epididymal inflammation at the intervals studied.
Anat Rec 1993 Jan
PMID:Ultrastructure of epididymal interstitial reactions following vasectomy and vasovasostomy. 841 29

The semen quality, plasma testosterone concentrations and ultrasonographic changes were studied for up to 20 weeks after the unilateral vasectomy of two adult goats and two rams, and the gross and histological changes were examined post mortem. An intact ram and an intact goat served as controls. There was a marked decrease in the sperm concentration and the total numbers of sperm per ejaculate in both species. However, there seemed to be no effect on ejaculatory volume, mass motility and individual motile sperm, percentages of dead and abnormal sperm and plasma concentrations of testosterone. Ultrasonographically, the epididymal tail lost its characteristic heterogeneous texture and appeared enlarged. Anechoic masses, representing sperm granulomata, were visible within the epididymal tail of both the rams, and the epididymal head of one of the goats and at the cut end of the vas deferens in the other. They were observed as early as four to six weeks after surgery and their nature was confirmed post mortem. The sequential ultrasonographic changes in the testis and the epididymis are described.
Vet Rec 1995 Jul 29
PMID:A clinical and ultrasonographic study of the testes and related structures of goats and rams after unilateral vasectomy. 853 54

Reproductive ability is decreased in aged animals and in men. Little is known about the changes taking place in the epididymis, and the possible influence on the loss of sperm quality. We studied the age-related alterations in the epididymis and in epididymal spermatozoa of hamsters. Adult (6-month-old), middle-aged (18-month-old), and aged (24-month-old) hamsters were used. Serum samples were obtained to determine testosterone levels. Testes and epididymides were removed and studied by light and electron microscopy. Epididymal sperm was also obtained and the motility, position of cytoplasmic droplet, and concentration were evaluated. Measurements of the height of the epithelium, length of stereocilia, external tubular diameter, and thickness of the muscular wall were performed. The proliferative activity was also studied. An ANOVA analysis was used to compare quantitative differences between epididymal zones and age groups. Aged hamsters presented involutive changes in the epididymis. A decrease in tubular diameter was found in cauda; principal cell ultrastructure showed changes including the appearance of damaged mitochondria, bundles of filaments, and the accumulation of lipofuscin. Some clear cells showed an unusual morphology by the presence of large electrondense vacuoles. A reduction in sperm quality was also observed, including a decrease in sperm motility and concentration, and alterations in the migration of sperm cytoplasmic droplet. Testosterone levels and cellular proliferative activity did not change. Aging causes a morphological alteration of hamster epididymis (mainly in the cauda), and a decrease in sperm quality.
Anat Rec 1999 12 01
PMID:Age-related changes in the hamster epididymis. 1058 20

We have recently shown that a 90-kDa glycoprotein, acrin1 (MN7), is exclusively localized in the dorsal region of the acrosomal apical segment of mature guinea pig sperm, and that its location changes during epididymal maturation. The present study examined the process of transport and organization of this protein in the acrosome during spermatogenesis in the guinea pig testis. Immunoperoxidase electron microscopy showed stage-specific localization of acrin1 within the developing acrosome, as follows: acrin1 first appeared in the proacrosomic vesicles of the early Golgi phase spermatids, and it was then localized in the electron-lucent matrix region of the acrosomic vesicles of the late Golgi phase spermatids. During the cap phase, acrin1 was abundant in the electron-lucent matrix of the acrosomal apical segment and in the head-cap region (principal segment). acrin1 became more restricted to the peripheral region of the electron-lucent matrix of acrosome phase spermatids and it was localized in the electron-lucent dorsal matrix region of maturation phase spermatids. In the final step of spermiogenesis, acrin1 disappeared from the equatorial and principal segments, and it was finally confined to the dorsal matrix region of the acrosomal apical segment. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that acrin1 of testes and epididymal sperm was of the identical size, indicating that acrin1 is not proteolytically modified during epididymal sperm maturation. These results indicate that acrosome morphogenesis is closely associated with the rearrangement of acrosomal proteins.
Anat Rec 2000 06 01
PMID:Transport and rearrangement of the intra-acrosomal protein acrin1 (MN7) during spermiogenesis in the guinea pig testis. 1082 Mar 15

Seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis of the Japanese wood mice (Apodemus speciosus) were studied. The testes, epididymis, pituitary and hypothalamus were compared between mice in the breeding season (July) and non-breeding season (October) using morphological techniques, and the plasma testosterone level was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. Significant differences in these tissues were observed between the breeding season and the non-breeding season. Specifically, differences in the non-breeding season included 1) a decline in testicular and epididymal weights, arrest of spermatogenesis and decrease of serum testosterone concentration; 2) a decrease in the number of luteinizing hormone (LH)-, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-, prolactin (PRL)-, and growth hormone (GH)-immunoreactive cells, and decrease in the size of FSH, PRL, and GH-immunoreactive cells; and 3) an increase in the size of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive neurons. Our findings indicate that the male adult Japanese wood mouse exhibits unique seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis which are not found in laboratory mice.
Anat Rec 2000 12 01
PMID:Seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis of the Japanese wood mouse (Apodemus speciosus). 1107 1

The microvasculature of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) epididymis was investigated using light (LM), scanning electron (SEM), and transmission electron (TEM) microscopy techniques. SEM analysis of the buffalo epididymis showed fenestrations that occupied ovoid inside the endothelium of the postcapillary venules located in the caput, corpus, and cauda. They varied in shape and dimension, but more importantly, they connected the venules of the blood vascular system to the capillaries of the peripheral lymphatic vascular system. Morphofunctional analysis of these connections suggests that the microvasculature of the buffalo epididymis plays a role in facilitating the circulation of biologically active substances, and the absorption and secretion processes necessary for the survival and maturation of spermatozoa. The lymphatic capillaries at the connection points formed a network of variously sized polygonal links. These capillaries then converged to form the precollector lymphatic vessels, which in turn converged with the larger vessels originating from the testis. It was further noted that in the capillary endothelium there were no fenestrations, and in the large veins there were many diverticula. These diverticula appear to play a role in the regulation of the seasonal variations of the blood reflux. In general, the microvascular architecture of the buffalo epididymis, particularly its connection to the lymphatic vascular system, appears to play an important role in the absorption and secretion processes of the epididymal epithelium.
Anat Rec 2002 01 01
PMID:Microvasculature of the buffalo epididymis. 1174 72

The effects of irreversible alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists, SZL-49 (an alkylating analogue of prazosin), dibenamine and benextramine on contractions to noradrenaline (NA) in longitudinal and circular muscle of human epididymal vas deferens were investigated. Competitive alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists were also used to further characterize the alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype stimulated by NA in longitudinal and circular muscle. NA evoked concentration-dependent contractions of both muscle types (pD2; 5.4 and 5.2 respectively). The contraction of circular muscle was comparatively more sensitive than that of longitudinal muscle to pretreatment with SZL-49. In contrast, dibenamine or benextramine produced comparable effects in both muscle types. The relationship between receptor occupancy and contraction in either longitudinal or circular muscle was nonlinear, with half-maximal response requiring similar receptor occupancy (longitudinal muscle 14%, circular muscle 16%). Maximal response in both muscle types occurred with little or no receptor reserve (<10%). The competitive alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists produced dextral shifts of the dose-response curves to NA in longitudinal and circular muscle. The inhibitory potencies, estimated from the apparent pKB values were significantly different in longitudinal and circular muscle respectively for either WB 4101 (pKB, 8.6 and 9.5) or RS-17053 (pKB, 7.1 and 9.0) but not for Rec 15/2739 (pKB, 9.2 and 9.8) or HV 723 (pKB, 8.3 and 8.4). In conclusion, the potency profile of the competitive alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists and the lack of different receptor reserves for NA in the muscle types suggest that the discriminatory effects of SZL-49 is primarily due to a predominance of the alpha1L-adrenoceptor subtype in longitudinal muscle and alpha1A-subtype in circular muscle.
 ...
PMID:Discrimination by SZL49 between contractions evoked by noradrenaline in longitudinal and circular muscle of human vas deferens. 1197 77

Little is known about morphological changes in the epididymis in relation to the natural photoperiod or their influence on sperm maturation. The viscacha is a seasonal rodent living in the Southern Hemisphere. The adult males exhibit an annual reproductive cycle with periods of maximum gonadal activity and gonadal regression. In this work, we studied seasonal variations in the morphology and cellular population of the epididymis during both periods, and we compared these results with those recorded at the testicular level. Epididymides were removed and studied by light microscopy. Measurements of luminal diameter, epithelial height, thickness of the lamina propria, and relative cellular distribution were performed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) or nonparametric ANOVA was used to compare the results. Striking quantitative and qualitative changes were observed. Epididymides in periods of gonadal regression showed a significant decrease in luminal diameter and epithelial height in cauda, while the thickness of the lamina propria increased. In the epididymal corpus, the number of clear cells increased, and the cytoplasm of principal cells showed numerous giant vacuoles. During the active period, the number of halo cells increased and the cytoplasm of these cells was filled with dense bodies. In conclusion, the epididymis of the viscacha exhibits important seasonal morphological changes throughout annual reproductive cycle. The epididymal corpus and cauda segments appeared to be the segments most sensitive to seasonal cyclical variations of the external environment. We therefore postulate that the epididymal morphology of the viscacha probably could be regulated by the natural photoperiod.
Anat Rec A Discov Mol Cell Evol Biol 2005 Jan
PMID:Epididymis of viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): morphological changes during the annual reproductive cycle. 1562 16

In many mammals, sperm associations had been observed, but not in the mouse. In this work, mouse sperm rosettes are morphologically described inside the epididymis and during its dissolution in a culture medium. Also characterized are the saccharides present in the linking material. Sperm association and other epididymal actions are supported by sperm during epididymal transit and are verified at the caudal region, suggesting a relation between epididymal transit and sperm maturation. In drops of epididymal content obtained from distal (cauda), but not from proximal (caput and corpus) regions; dissolved in culture medium, rosettes appear to be 10 to 15 motile sperm joined by their heads. After 3 min, sperm progressively detach, disassembling the rosette. These structures are studied by several techniques, including optic, electronic (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy), and video microscopy. At the ultrastructural level, a dense network of electron-dense material was observed between sperm heads, joining them. Based on previous works in rat, several lectins were used to characterize the type of saccharides present in this linking material. To avoid the contact between sperm and epididymal fluid from distal region--that probably exerts an influence on sperm association--a ligature was placed between caput and corpus. This epididymal content isolated from caput did not display any rosettes after 28 days.
Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2007 Jul
PMID:Mouse sperm rosette: assembling during epididymal transit, in vitro disassemble, and oligosaccharide participation in the linkage material. 1754 71

Claudins are integral membrane proteins at tight junctions (TJs) and form TJ strands. In the present study, we found that claudin-7 was localized along the entire lateral membranes of epididymal epithelium, including the apical junctional region throughout the epididymis, but claudin-8 was restricted to the apical junctional region. This finding raises the possibility that aberrant TJ strands may be formed on lateral membranes. Thus, we focused on examining whether TJ strands exist on lateral membranes of epididymal epithelium. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed that aberrant TJ strands were observed in only a few principal cells in all segments of the epididymis except for the initial segment, indicating that the occurrence of aberrant strands is very rare. Aberrant TJ strands were smooth and not subdivided into individual particles in the protoplasmic face, and complementary grooves in the extracellular face were almost free of particles. Aberrant TJ strands in the distal caput and corpus epididymis were accompanied by many vesicle-like structures but those in the proximal caput and cauda epididymis were not. These results suggest that most of claudin-7 in lateral membranes may exist in a nonpolymerized form and may play some different roles other than the formation of TJ strands, for example, in the formation of a pool of claudin proteins or in the reinforcement of cell adhesion.
Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2007 Nov
PMID:Claudin-7 expressed on lateral membrane of rat epididymal epithelium does not form aberrant tight junction strands. 1785 15


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