In order to investigate the morphological characteristics of epididymal duct of the squirrel, the histological and histochemical studies were carried out. The epididymal duct can be divided into 9 segments by histological and histochemical features. Segments 1 to 5 were located in the head, segments 6 and 7 in the body, and segments 8 and 9 in the tail of the epididymis. The apical cells were numerous in the segment. Clear cells which has a compact, deeply staining nucleus and a characteristically clear cytoplasm were scattered in the epithelium throughout the duct. Interepithelial clear cells which had PAS-positive granules tended to increase in number caudally. Strong PAS-positive reaction was detected at the intralumen of the segments 3, 8 and 9. Acid phosphatase activity was relatively high in the basal cytoplasm of the segment 7, and then in the supranuclear region of the segments 8 and 9. Alkaline phosphatase activity was weakly positive or negative except the segments 3 and 4. ATPase activity was strong in the free surface of the epithelium in the head and the entire cytoplasm in the body and tail, and SDH activity was generally weak except for the body where it was more intense.

Data from 34 yearling Hereford or Angus bulls were used to investigate relationships of testicular size, quantitative rates of sperm production, Sertoli cell numbers, numbers of germ cells supported per Sertoli cell, and the efficiency of spermatogenesis to daily sperm output and seminal quality. Two ejaculates were collected by electroejaculation from each bull on each of 2 days/week throughout the study. The percentage of progressively motile sperm and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm were determined from aliquots of fresh semen. Additional aliquots of semen were frozen in glass ampules or plastic straws and subsequently evaluated for postthaw motility and percentage of sperm with intact acrosomes. Sertoli cell numbers, the numbers of germcells per Sertoli cell, and the efficiency of spermatogenesis were unrelated to the quality of fresh or frozen semen (P greater than 0.05). In first ejaculates, the numbers of sperm and motile sperm were related (P less than 0.05) to testicular parenchymal weight (r = 0.38, and 0.50), daily sperm production (r = 0.45 and 0.53), and spermatids per gram of testicular parenchyma (r = 0.35 and 0.34). Testicular parenchymal weight and daily sperm production also were related to daily sperm output and to the average daily motile sperm output of these bulls (P less than 0.05), but could account for less than 25% of the variability in these end points among bulls.

The present study has been carried out to investigate the effect of three neurotransmitters (Glutamate, L-Arginine and GABA) on some aspects of the reproductive performance of mature male Albino rats. For this purpose, a total of 100 mature male Albino rats were used. Rats were divided into 4 comparable groups; the first consists of 10 rats, was left as control. The second was administered glutamate 10 mg/ kg, the third group was injected by L- Arginine 20 mg/ kg while the fourth was injected by GABA 1 mg / rat. The results showed that administration of glutamate was concomitant with increase in synthesis and release of pituitary LH causing increase in its serum level as well as decrease serum level of testosterone. On the other hand, prolonged L-Arginine administration led to remarkable elevation in both pituitary and serum LH and significant decrease of serum testosterone. While, GABA administration led to remarkable decrease in pituitary and serum LH with significant decrease in serum testosterone level.

Q fever (coxiellosis) is an infectious disease of animals and humans, caused by.C. burnetii and widely distributed throughout the world. It is known that people and animals acquire the disease predominantly.via inhalation of infectious aerosols. The possibility of transmission of the pathogen by the alimentary route is still a matter of debate and remains controversial. Therefore the aim of this study was to fill the gaps in knowledge of oral transmission of.C. burnetii by conducting biological tests on the guinea pig model. Guinea pigs, divided into five groups comprising a negative control and four experimental groups, received specified concentrations of.C. burnetii per os. To determine the presence of specific antibodies, blood samples were tested using CFT. Also, internal organs collected during necropsy were screened by a real-time PCR targeting I.1111. Additionally, histopathological evaluation of the tissues was performed. The presence of antibodies and pathogen DNA in caecum was confirmed in one guinea pig from experimental group IV..C. burnetii was also detected in testicular tissue collected from one animal of experimental group II. The presence of pathogen DNA in the testicular tissue indicates that infection spreads haematogenously. In the majority of experimental animals specific antibodies and genetic material of.C. burnetii were not detected. This fact suggests that development of infection depends on many factors, such as animal immune status.

Methimazole-induced hypothyroidism is a clinical problem in the treatment of hyperthyroidism in people and animals and is an example of metabolic disease that can lead to fertility disorders and can give elastographic testicular changes. Ultrasound elastography using the Esaote MyLab Twice ultrasound system and a morphological examination of testes were performed in seven methimazole-administered (group E) and seven healthy rats (group C). The elasticity ratio of strains in the scrotal wall of the near-field test area to testicular tissue (ELX-T-RAT) and hardness percentage of strained tissues in the defined area of a testicle (ELX-T%HRD) in group E were statistically significantly lower than in group C. The degree of spermatogenesis was statistically significantly higher in group E than in group C and similarly seminiferous tubule diameters in group E were statistically significantly higher than in group C. Body weight and testicular weight in group E were statistically significantly lower than in group C. Changes in the elastographical parameters of testes may result from disorders secondary to hypothyroidism. The usefulness of elastography is noteworthy in the case of evaluation of testis function in patients with some metabolic disorders.

Veterinarians use flumequine (FLU) widely but its toxicological effects are still unclear. FLU doses of 53, 200, or 750 mg/kg were administered orally for six weeks to pubertal male rats for evaluation of their toxicity. Weight gain was poorer after seven days of exposure to FLU 750, but relative weights of the brain, adrenal and thyroid glands, and testes were notably higher. Haematological and lipid profile parameters, cardiac markers, and inorganic phosphate significantly increased in the FLU 750 group. Blood glucose, oestradiol and serum concentrations of immunoglobulins G (IgG) and E (IgE) significantly decreased after treatment. The levels of interleukins 10 (IL-10) and 6 (IL-6) fell significantly in the FLU 200 and FLU 750 groups. Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression amplified after treatment. Serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) reduced in the FLU 200 and FLU 750 groups without changes in total T3 or T4 level. All doses of FLU significantly depressed concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and testosterone. Histopathology of thyroid glands from rats treated with FLU 750 showed degeneration and depletion of thyroid follicular epithelial cells. Expression of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the brain, but decreased in the testes. Expression of CYP1A1 increased in the adrenal and pituitary glands. The results of this study suggest that the toxicity of FLU in rats is an effect of its disruptive influence on the pituitary-thyroid hormonal system and on the dysfunction of the immune system.

Testin is a protein involved in cell mobility, adhesion and colony formation. In rats, testin presence has been reported in the testes, and its possible role in spermatogenesis has been suggested. Studies in humans also suggest a possible role of testin as a cancer suppressor protein. In the dog, which represents both an important pet species and a good animal model for studying biological and pathological testicular processes, the presence of testin has never been reported.