Structure of the testis and genital duct of freshwater stingray, Himantura signifer (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae)

Abstract

The light microscopic structure of the testis and genital duct system of the freshwater stingray Himantura signifer was observed. The testis is composed of lobes having numerous spermatocysts in a dorsoventral zonated arrangement. The germinal papilla at the middorsal surface of the testicular lobe is the origin site of spermatocyst development, where mesenchymal-like cells are predominantly found. The association of a Sertoli cell precursor with a spermatogonium marks the onset of spermatocyst formation and development. The newly formed spermatocysts at the dorsal end of the germinal zone replace the older ones, which are sequentially moved to the ventral side and are termed spermatogonial, spermatocyte, spermatid, spermatozoal, and degenerate zones. In the degenerate zone, the spermatocysts deteriorate after releasing the spermatozoa into the intratesticular duct, where they are further transported through the extratesticular duct system and finally stored at the seminal vesicle. The epithelial lining of the genital duct is a pseudostratified ciliated columnar with no muscular layer underneath; thus, sperm are conveyed through ciliary activity. The interesting features of the present study are the finding of mesenchymal-like cells in the germinal papilla and the nonaggregated formation of sperm in the seminal vesicle.