Development of the epididymis in Meishan boars

Harayama, H.; Nanjo, I.; Kanda, S.; Kato, S.

doi:1992.5.1.165

Article

Animal Reproduction and Physiology

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1992;5(1): 165-171.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1992.165 Published online March 1, 1992.

Development of the epididymis in Meishan boars

H. Harayama, I. Nanjo, S. Kanda, S. Kato

Abstract

The developmental process of the epididymis was investigated in Meishan boars from 1 to 364 days of age. Epididymal weight increased rapidly between 45 and 150-180 days of age. The diameter and epithelial area of the epididymal ducts greatly increased up to 105-120 days of age. At 1 day of age, the central and distal cauda already had a pseudostratified epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle. At 60-75 days of age, the central and distal caput, corpus, and proximal cauda revealed a well-developed structure of the epithelium. The proximal caput showed a tall, irregular and vacuolar epithelium at 105-120 days of age. PAS-positive contents in the lumen of the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides were first detected at 60-75, 46-60 and 1-30 days of age, respectively. Moreover, in the central and distal caput, PAS-positive granules appeared at 60-75 days of age, and increased until 105-120 days. These results suggest that the epididymis develops completely by approximately 120 days of age, though its weight increases rapidly up to 150-180 days. Thus, it appears that development of the epididymis occurs at an earlier age in Meishan boars than in European and American breeds.

Keywords: Meishan Boar; Epididymis; Sexual Maturity