Understanding squamate reproductive morphology is crucial for investigating ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary questions. Here, we describe the anatomy and histology of the male genital system of Ameiva ameiva from southeastern Brazil. Ten adult males were dissected to characterize genital macroscopy and collect fragments of the testes, gonadoducts, and kidneys for histological examination. We examined 10 transverse histological sections per individual and measured the epithelial height of the epididymis and ductus deferens. The male reproductive system consists of a pair of yellowish oval testes, the rete testis, ductuli efferentes, epididymis, ductus deferens, ampulla ductus deferentis, sexual segment of the kidney (SSK), cloaca, and hemipenis. The hemipenis is elongated, cylindrical, and unilobed, with a sulcate face and an asulcate face, which has continuous fringes throughout its length. Seminiferous tubules exhibited germ cells at various stages. The epididymis is wider and more coiled than the ductus deferens. The rete testis has a simple squamous epithelium with long stereocilia, while the narrower ductuli efferentes are lined by a simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium. The epididymal epithelium is pseudostratified columnar, with basal and ciliated principal cells, whereas the ductus deferens epithelium is pseudostratified to simple cuboidal. The epididymal epithelium is 1.5 times taller than the ductus deferens epithelium. Here, we observed the SSK present in the cortex of the ventral region of the kidneys due to the hypertrophy of the distal convoluted tubules, as well as its secretory activity. Our findings will contribute to future research into the evolution of squamate reproductive morphology.

We used histological and morphometric methods to study the testis and associated glands, including the epididymis, ductus deferens, and renal sexual segment (RSS), of specimens of Basiliscus vittatus sampled from Tabasco, Mexico (17.5926° N, 92.5816° W). Samples were collected throughout 1 year, which included the dry (February to May) and rainy (June to January) seasons. Spermatogenesis in B. vittatus is active throughout the year, but a significant increase in the testicular volume, diameters of seminiferous tubules, height of the germinal epithelium, spermiogenesis, and released spermatozoa occur in the dry season. During the rainy season, all aforementioned parameters decreased except the secretory activity of the epididymis and the RSS, which increased concomitant with an increase of the spermatozoa population within the ductus deferens. These data strongly suggest that B. vittatus reproduce year-round, but males exhibit a peak in spermatogenic activity during the dry season and a peak in insemination and/or copulation at the beginning of the rainy season. We highlight the importance of analyzing not only the testis but also accessory ducts and glands when determining the reproductive cycles of reptiles. The reproductive cycle of B. vittatus is discussed in relation to the environmental conditions of Southern Mexico and is compared to that of other squamates.

In small and laboratory animals epididymal spermatozoa can be collected only by the mincing technique however, blood and cell debris contamination may adversely affect the quality of the samples. This study aimed at performing the retrograde flushing technique, for the first time, in the tomcat. In the first experiment attempts to insert a blunted needle into tomcats\' ductus deferentes were made and the cannulation time and the success rate were recorded. In the second experiment, insertion of the needle into the ductus was carried out under a stereomicroscope for one testis, while the other was submitted to mincing for sperm recovery and the samples obtained from paired testes were compared. In the first study, only twenty-eight percent of the cannulation attempts were successful whereas in the second experiment, 91% of the deferentes were successfully cannulated: 80% of the ducts were cannulated in less than three minutes. The stereomicroscope-aided retrograde flushing samples showed significantly higher sperm viability, motility and velocities, as compared to those resulted from mincing. The domestic cat serves as a model for more than 36 species of wild felids; the developed stereomicroscope-aided retrograde flushing technique has the potential to become the gold standard method for harvesting spermatozoa of endangered species that have a small ductus deferens.

A 2-year-old male neutered Rat Terrier was presented for alopecia, recurrent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound and CT identified a thin, tubular, paired structure arising from the craniodorsal aspect of an enlarged, cystic prostate. An atypical uterus masculinus was initially suspected, however it was then identified that the patient had chronic exogenous estrogen exposure, and surgical resection and histopathology was consistent with an enlarged and inflamed vas deferens. Vas deferens enlargement and vasitis secondary to chronic hyperestrogenism should be considered for a tubular, paired structure arising from the craniodorsal prostate in a male dog.

The ductus deferens is a fundamental part of the male genital tract and the continuation of the epididymal duct. As a male secondary sex organ, the ductus deferens plays a crucial role in the nourishment, storage, and maturation of spermatozoa. Some studies have provided information about the ductus deferens structure in reptiles; however, the full description of the ductus deferens remains to be clarified. The current study aimed to describe the Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus) ductus deferens from histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural perspectives. The results revealed that the ductus deferens is formed histologically from two main cell types: principal and basal. The principal cells were tall and filled with periodic acid Schiff (+)/alcian blue (−) cytoplasmic granules. The basal cells were found just above the basement membrane. By transmission electron microscopy, the principal cells exhibited typical protein-secreting cell features. Additionally, some intraepithelial cells, such as halo cells, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, and agranular leukocytes, were identified. This study presents the first detailed description of the Varanus niloticus ductus deferens. Further immunohistochemical studies are required to explore the function(s) of the cellular components.

Homeobox (HOX) proteins are known for their critical role in body shape formation and tissue differentiation of developing vertebrate embryos. Recent research has shown that HOX proteins have many physiological roles such as cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and cell differentiation in adults, as well as the development of the vertebrate nerve and reproductive system. This study was conducted to determine the possible physiological functions and expression intensities of HOXA10, HOXA11, HOXB6 and HOXC6 proteins in the male reproductive system (testes, epididymis and deferens ducts), which are important for the continuity of some specific cat breeds in different age ranges. In the study, a total of 18 testicular tissues were used, divided into two groups: less than 6 months (immature) and more than 1 year (mature). Tissue samples were then subjected to immunohistochemical staining with protein-specific antibodies examined in the study. In the findings obtained in the research; it was observed that HOXA10, HOXA11, HOXB6 and HOXC6 produced different intensities of immunolocalization in the epididymis and ductus deferens layers in the immature and mature testicular cells. In addition, it was found that HOXA10 immunoreaction was also seen in some vascular endothelial cells. As a result, it was concluded that the HOX proteins could contribute to the physiological functions of testes, epididymis and ductus deferens and affect male fertility.

Background: Similar to other secretory organs, the male spermatic ducts may develop calculi. However, this condition is described as rare in literature and usually affects the seminal vesicles. As far as we know, no cases of calculi in the ampulla of the ductus deferens have been published so far. Patients with seminal vesicle calculi usually complain of hematospermia, painful ejaculation, perineal or testicular discomfort or pain, and often experience significant impairment of quality of life. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 39-year-old patient who presented himself in an external urologic practice with recurrent hematospermia and painful ejaculation. According to the diagnosis of a seminal vesicle calculus of 1 cm in length on the right side, the patient underwent a transurethral vesiculo- and ampulloscopy with a semirigid ureteroscope whereby the stone could be located in the ampulla of the ductus deferens and removed in toto. Conclusion: Lithiasis should be kept in mind when examining patients with hematospermia and ejaculation pain. Transurethral ampulloscopy is an efficient, safe, and minimally invasive method for stone removal from the ampulla of the ductus deferens.

To evaluate the vas deferens and testicles of rats submitted to bilateral inguinotomy and polypropylene (PP) mesh placement.
Sixty Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: Control (inguinotomy only), mesh placement over the vas deferens (Mesh-DD) or under the spermatic funiculus (Mesh-SF). The following analyses were performed: vas deferens morphometry (lumen area and wall thickness), quantification of collagen fibers, spermatogenesis, apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 and TUNEL) and cellular proliferation (Ki67). Quantitative gene expression (qPCR) for apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by RT-PCR.
In the apoptosis pathway, Mesh-DD showed one upregulated gene (Il10) and three downregulated genes (Fadd, Tnfrsf1b and Xiap). In Mesh-SF, 17 genes were downregulated. In the inflammation pathway (Mesh-DD), one gene was upregulated (Il1r1), and one gene was downregulated (Ccl12). In Mesh-SF, three genes were upregulated (Il1r1, Tnfsf13b and Csf1), and two were downregulated (Ccl12 and Csf2). PP mesh placement preserved spermatogenesis and did not alter the vas deferens or the testicle. In the ductus deferens, there was reduced luminal area (30 days), increased wall thickness (90 days), and increased type III collagen and cell proliferation (30 and 90 days) (p < 0.05). In the testicle, cell proliferation was greater in the Mesh-DD (p < 0.05).
PP mesh, whether or not in direct contact with spermatic funicular structures, induces changes that were not sufficient to cause damage to the evaluated organs.

Vas deferens is a conduit for sperm and fluid from the epididymis to the urethra. The duct is surrounded by a thick smooth muscle layer. To map the actin cytoskeleton of the duct and its epithelium, we reacted sections of the proximal and distal regions with fluorescent phalloidin. Confocal microscopic imaging showed that the cylinder-shaped epithelium of the proximal region has a thick apical border of actin filaments that form microvilli. The epithelium of the distal region is covered with tall stereocilia (13-18 µm) that extend from the apical border into the lumen. In both regions, the lateral and basal cell borders showed a thin lining of actin cytoskeleton. The vas deferens epithelium contains various channels to regulate the fluid composition in the lumen. We mapped the localization of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), aquaporin-9 (AQP9), and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the rat and mouse vas deferens. ENaC and AQP9 immunofluorescence were localized on the luminal surface and stereocilia and also in the basal and smooth muscle layers. CFTR immunofluorescence appeared only on the luminal surface and in smooth muscle layers. The localization of all three channels on the apical surface of the columnar epithelial cells provides clear evidence that these channels are involved concurrently in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance in the lumen of the vas deferens. ENaC allows the flow of Na+ ions from the lumen into the cytoplasm, and the osmotic gradient generated provides the driving force for the passive flow of water through AQP channels.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to observe the possible protective effects of resveratrol (RSV) against damage induced by di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), on the ductus epididymis and deferens in rats.
METHODS: Six groups of rats were used in the experiment: Group 1: Control group; Group 2: Solvent (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), 10 ml/kg); Group 3: 500 mg/kg/day DBP; Group 4: 500 mg/kg/day DBP+20 mg/kg/day RSV; Group 5: 1000 mg/kg/day DBP; Group 6: 1000 mg/kg/day DBP + 20 mg/kg/day RSV. Groups were treated by gavage for 30 days. Immunohistochemical, electronmicroscopic and histomorphometric examinations were carried out in the epididymis and deferens.
RESULTS: In the ductus epididymis and deferens mitochondrial crystolysis, exfoliation of the stereocilia and openings in lateral surface increased with DBP dosage, but these structures were recovered with RSV. DBP reduced the epithelial height of epididymis and vas deferens. Lumen dilatation was observed in both tissues. These disorders may lead to dysfunction of epithelial absorption. In the TUNEL examinations in both tissues, there were no apoptotic cells or apoptotic bodies.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, DBP administration caused structural degeneration in the epididymis and deferens, parallel to dose evaluation and RSV can reverse these changes with its protective effects.