Post-Natal Histochemistry of Proteins in the Testis and its Duct System in Sheep (Ovis aries)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the postnatal histochemistry of proteins in the testis and its duct system in Madras Red rams from birth to sexual maturity. The testes of thirty-two Madras red rams were collected immediately after slaughter from the Chennai corporation abbattoir. The rams used were divided into four age groups viz; pre-weaning (birth to 3 months), pre-pubertal (4 to 6 months), pubertal (7 to 9 months) and post-pubertal (10 to 12 months) each of which consisted of eight animals. The tissue pieces were collected from the peripheral, central and mediastinal regions of testis; head, body and tail regions of epididymis; and nonglandular and ampullary regions of ductus deferens. The formalin fixed tissues were processed and the paraffin sections were stained with protein staining techniques. The reaction for proteins in the testis, epididymis and ductus deferens was very weak in the pre-weaning period in all the regions. As age advanced, the reaction became mild in the pre-pubertal group and thereafter was mild to moderate up to maturity. In the ampullary region, the reaction in the tunica muscularis was moderate whereas that in the lamina propria and epithelium was mild.