Ultrasonographic, Morphometric and Histological Study of Testicular Parameters in Egyptian Water Buffalo Bulls (Bubalus Bubalis)

Abstract

This study was carried out to identify testicular biometric data of native Egyptian buffalo-bulls through the determination of testicular parameters by using ultrasound examination of the testis and scrotum and determination of scrotal circumference of the life animal and morphometric data of the testis after slaughter of the bulls and their correlations with body weight at the different ages that will provide data base for the reproductive anatomy of the local Egyptian buffalo bull. The animals were divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3) according to the age and the weight of the animals. All animals were examined with ultrasonography to determine the different parameters of the testis, epididymis and pampiniform plexus. After slaughter of the animals, the left and right testes were taken for morphometric and histological analysis. The results revealed significant (pË‚0.05) variations between body weight and testicular parameters that included (Testicular Weight, Testicular Width, Testicular Circumference, Testicular Thickness and Testicular Length) as there was an increase in all parameters with the advancement in age and body weight. Histological analysis of G1 declared that only sertoli cells rested on basal lamina of seminiferous tubules and Gonocyt cells are predominant but there was no spermatogenic cells, no spermatocyte and no spermatid in the lumen of seminiferous tubules. In G2 group, there was replacement of Gonocyt cells with differentiated spermatogenic cell and spermatocyte in the lumen of seminiferous tubule but there was no spermatid. In G3 group, there were different stages of developmental spermatogenic cell clusters within the epithelium of seminiferous tubules (sertoli cells spermatogenia cells, different cells type of spermatocyte, and  round  spermatid as well as several threads like sperms were in the lumen of seminiferous tubules) that  indicate the early maturity of Egyptian  buffalo bull noticed at this age Statistical analysis revealed significant (p <0.05) changes in the testicular parameters with the advancement in the age and weight of the animals concluding that ultrasonographic imaging of the testis and epididymis of buffalo-bulls was given appreciable benefits in studying the developmental changes of the testes and epididymis of buffalo-bulls, so that ultrasound examination of testicular parameters is a good tool for prediction of the future fertility of buffalo-bulls.