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Morphological and immunohistochemical study of testicular capsule and peritubular tissue of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and ostrich (Struthio camelus)

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Abstract

The testicular capsule and peritubular boundary tissue of the emu and ostrich, as typical representatives of ratite birds, were studied in sexually mature and active birds. The testicular capsule was much thicker (578.1±73.4 μm for the free surface of the ostrich testis, and 176.2±57.5 μm for the emu) than those of members of the Galloanserae. The cellular composition of both testicular capsule and peritubular tissue was similar generally to that of members of the previously studied Galloanserae and of mammals. The tunica albuginea of the testicular capsule mainly comprised smooth-muscle-like or myoid cells mostly running in one direction and occurring in one main mass. Unlike the Galloanserae, the tunica albuginea contained more collagen fibres than smooth muscle cells, especially in the ostrich. Peritubular tissue was similarly composed of smooth-muscle-like cells distributed in several layers. Actin microfilaments and desmin and vimentin intermediate filaments were variably immunoexpressed in these two tissue types in both birds, with a clear dichotomy in the peritubular tissue. Thus, taken together with studies of some members of the Galloanserae, avian testes clearly contain a morphological mechanism that is represented partly by the smooth muscle cells of the testicular capsule and peritubular tissue for transporting the testicular fluid, which is usually copious in birds, and its cellular content from the testis into the excurrent duct system; this mechanism is similar to that found in mammals.

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Author notes

  1. T. A. Aire

    Present address: Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

    P. C. Ozegbe, T. A. Aire, M.-C. Madekurozwa & J. T. Soley

Authors
  1. P. C. Ozegbe
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  2. T. A. Aire
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  3. M.-C. Madekurozwa
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  4. J. T. Soley
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Correspondence to T. A. Aire.

Additional information

The authors are grateful for a University of Pretoria research grant, which aided this work. Dr Peter Ozegbe of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan is a recipient of the University of Pretoria Foreign Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

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Ozegbe, P.C., Aire, T.A., Madekurozwa, MC. et al. Morphological and immunohistochemical study of testicular capsule and peritubular tissue of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and ostrich (Struthio camelus). Cell Tissue Res 332, 151–158 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-007-0515-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-007-0515-2

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