Abstract

Spotted deer (Axis axis) is a medium sized deer classified under family Cervidae. Deer is reported as seasonal breeders in many temperate and tropical regions.  The study was conducted on the testis and epididymis collected from three adult spotted deer. Tissue samples were preserved in 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin, processed for routine paraffin embedding procedures. 5 µm thick sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and examined to record morphological and morphometrical parameters.  Testis was oval in shape and was covered by a thick, dense irregular connective tissue capsule. Mediastinum testis was centrally placed. Testicular parenchyma enclosed coiled seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue containing isolated Leydig cells. Each seminiferous tubule had a stratified epithelium and an enveloping lamina propria. The epithelium enclosed Sertoli cells and various developmental stages spermatozoa, indicating active spermatogenesis. The basal zone of epithelium contained spermatogonia whereas primary spermatocytes formed the middle zone. More matured spermatids constituted a layer towards the lumen. Elongated spermatid had an oval sperm head. Simple cuboidal to simple squamous cells lined the rete testis. Efferent ductules lined by alternating groups of simple cuboidal and simple columnar cells were present in the caput epididymis in addition to the epididymal tubules. The entire corpus and cauda contained the highly coiled ductus epididymis. Pseudostratified epithelium with stereocilia lined the ductuli epididymis. The height of cells decreased significantly from the caput to cauda epididymis. Encircling smooth muscle cells of the epididymal tubules exhibited an increasing trend from caput to cauda. The study revealed morphological features of testis and epididymis in spotted deer which will form a baseline data of the species.

Keywords : Spotted deer, testis, epididymis, morphology, spermatogenic cells