Takano H, Abe K, Ito T
Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi. 1981 Mar;56(2):133-41.
The ductuli efferentes or the epididymal duct between the head and body were ligated in young mice aged 20-30 days, and effects of the ligation on the epididymis were histologically examined by means of qualitative and quantitative procedures at the age of 50-60 days. As reported previously (Takano, 1980), the epididymal duct of the mouse can be divided into five regions (regions I-V). On the morphometric basis, the five regions can be divided into two major portions, proximal and distal. The proximal portion consists of regions I, II and III which form the head of the epididymis. The distal portion is composed of regions IV and V which form the body and tail of the organ. The results of the qualitative and quantitative analysis in the previous study suggested that the proximal portion is functionally related with maturation of sperms and the distal portion is concerned with storage of sperms. Juvenile ligation of the ductuli efferentes or the epididymal duct between the proximal and distal portions caused the following changes in the epididymal duct. 1. Region I, "initial segment", was normally characterized by the lining of high columnar epithelial cells. Juvenile ligation of the ductuli efferentes impaired differentiation of region I, but not that of the remaining regions. Epididymal duct ligation between regions III and IV, on the other hand, exerted no influence on differentiation of the entire duct. Thus differentiation of region I is dependent upon the luminal contents transferred from the testis. 2. The luminal contents were stored in abundance in the distal portion after ligation of the ductuli efferentes, as were in the case of the normal control. On the other hand, the luminal contents were abundant in th proximal portion and scanty in the distal portion after epididymal duct ligation between the proximal and distal portions. These results suggest that the luminal contents may be produced in the proximal portion even after ligation of the ductuli efferentes, transported into the distal portion and stored there. 3. In region IV, the epithelium showed marked histological changes after ligation of the ductuli efferentes or the epididymal duct between regions III and IV. After ligation of the ductuli efferentes, PAS-positive granules and masses frequently appeared in the epithelial cells. After epididymal duct ligation between regions III and IV, clear vacuolated cells and large vacuole-like spaces frequently appeared within the epithelium. Thus it is likely that the epithelial cells of region IV are functionally related to the luminal contents stored.
在20 - 30日龄的幼鼠中，结扎输出小管或附睾头与体之间的附睾管，并在50 - 60日龄时通过定性和定量方法对结扎对附睾的影响进行组织学检查。如先前报道（Takano，1980），小鼠的附睾管可分为五个区域（区域I - V）。基于形态计量学，这五个区域可分为两个主要部分，近端和远端。近端部分由形成附睾头的区域I、II和III组成。远端部分由形成附睾体和尾的区域IV和V组成。先前研究的定性和定量分析结果表明，近端部分在功能上与精子成熟相关，而远端部分与精子储存有关。幼年时结扎输出小管或近端与远端之间的附睾管会导致附睾管出现以下变化。1. 区域I，“起始段”，通常以高柱状上皮细胞内衬为特征。幼年时结扎输出小管会损害区域I的分化，但不会影响其余区域的分化。另一方面，在区域III和IV之间结扎附睾管对整个管道的分化没有影响。因此，区域I的分化取决于从睾丸转运来的管腔内容物。2. 结扎输出小管后，管腔内容物大量储存在远端部分，与正常对照情况相同。另一方面，在近端与远端之间结扎附睾管后，管腔内容物在近端部分丰富，而在远端部分稀少。这些结果表明，即使结扎输出小管后，管腔内容物也可能在近端部分产生，运输到远端部分并储存在那里。3. 在区域IV，结扎输出小管或区域III和IV之间的附睾管后，上皮出现明显的组织学变化。结扎输出小管后，上皮细胞中经常出现PAS阳性颗粒和团块。在区域III和IV之间结扎附睾管后，上皮内经常出现透明的空泡化细胞和大的空泡样间隙。因此，区域IV的上皮细胞可能在功能上与储存的管腔内容物相关。
