Summary
Distinct histochemical and ultrastructural signs of a steroid hormone synthesis are found in the sexually mature cock, particularly in the ductuli efferentes proximales of the main part of the epididymis and in the blind ends of the ductuli aberrantes of the appendix epididymidis. These signs are more distinct in the appendix epididymidis of the capon since the blind ends of the ductuli aberrantes transform into steroid sex hormone producing noduli epididymidis after they sprout out intensively and branch inside or beneath the adrenal capsule. The signs of virility were lost immediately after castration. They become more distinct again due to the hormonal activity of the noduli. Due to the morphologic agreement the noduli epididymidis of the capon are homologous to the noduli epoophori of the hen.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aichel, O.: Vergleichende Entwicklungsgeschichte und Stammesgeschichte der Nebennieren. Arch. mikr. Anat. 56, 2–71 (1900)
Arrington, L. R., Fox, M. M., Bern, N. A.: Androgen content of testis and adrenal of White Leghorn cockerls. Endocrinology 51, 226–236 (1952)
Aumüller, G.: Zur Feinstruktur des Maulwurfovars (Talpa europaea, L.). Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 144, 1–18 (1974)
Bachmann, R.: Blutgefäß- und Lymphgefäßapparat und innersekretorische Drüsen. In: Möllendorff, W.v., Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, Bd. VI/5. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1954
Baillie, A. H., Ferguson, M. M., Mick Hart, D.: Developments in steroid histochemistry. London and New York: Academic Press 1966
Bawa, S. A.: Fine structure of the sertoli cell of the human testis. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 9, 459–474 (1963)
Benoit, J.: Sur les rapport entre les quantites de parenchyme testiculaire et les different degres du developpement de la crete chez des coqs porteur de masses testiculaires minimes. C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 97, 787–789 (1927)
Boring, A. M., Pearl, R.: Sex studies. XI. Hermaphrodite birds. J. exp. Zool. 25, 1–48 (1918)
Berens von Rautenfeld, D.: Zur Form und Funktion des Kopulationsorganes beim Haushuhn (Gallus domesticus). Diss. vet. med., FU Berlin 1973
Berens von Rautenfeld, D., Budras, K.-D.: Elektronenoptische Untersuchung über Transsudationsvorgänge zwischen Blut- und Lymphkapillaren im Lymphobulbus des Kopulationsorganes beim Haushahn (Gallus domesticus). Anat., Histol., Embryol. C 4 (1975)
Budras, K.-D.: Das Epoophoron der Henne und die Transformation seiner Epithelzellen in Interrenal- und Interstitialzellen. Ergebn. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 46/3, 1–70 (1972)
Budras, K.-D., Hildebrand, B.: Reservezellfelder für steroidhormonproduzierende Zellen in Nebenniere, Hoden und Nebenhoden des Hahnes. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 88, 1–27 (1974)
Cooksey, E. J., Rothwell, B.: The ultrastructure of the Sertoli cell and its differentiation in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). J. Anat. (Lond.) 114, 329–345 (1973)
Chiarugi, G.: Ricerche sulla struttura dell' ovaia della lepre (Lepus timidus Linn.). Atti Accad. Fisiocr. Siena 4, 19–61 (1885)
Deffke,K.: Beiträge zur Kastration der Hähne. Mh. prakt. Tierheilk. 2, 65–72 (1890)
Fawcett, D. W., Hamilton, D. W.: Electron microscopical and biochemical evidence for steroid biosynthesis by the mammalian Epididymis and Vas deferens. Morph. aspects of Andrology 1, 119–121 (1970)
Frankel, A. I., Eik-Nes, K. B.: Metabolism of steroids in the rabbit epididymis. Endocrinology 87, 646–652 (1970)
Freund, L.: Keimdrüsen und Kastration bei männlichen Vögeln. Nat. wiss. Wschr. 41, 569–571 (1917)
Hamilton, D. W., Fawcett, D. W.: In vivo synthesis of cholesterol and testosterone from acetate by rat epididymis and ductus deferens. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 133, 693 (1970)
Hamilton, D. W., Jones, A. L., Fawcett, D. W.: Cholesterol biosynthesis in the mouse epididymis and ductus deferens: a biochemical and morphological study. Biol. Reprod. 1, 167–184 (1969)
Harz, W.: Beiträge zur Histologie des Ovariums der Säugetiere. Arch. mikr. Anat. 22, 374–407 (1883)
Hooker, C. W., Cunnigham, B.: Regeneration of testis in the fowl and its bearing on germcell theory. Anat. Rec. 72, 371–385 (1938)
Houssay, B. A., Houssay, A. B., Cardeza, A. F., Pinto, R. M.: Tumeurs surrénales oestrogéniques et tumeurs hypophysaires chez les animaux castrés. Schweiz. med. Wschr. 85, 291–296 (1955)
Inano, H., Machino, A., Tamacki, E.: In vivo metabolism of steroid hormones by cell-free homogenates of the epididymis of adult rats. Endocrinology 84, 997–1003 (1969)
Kar, A. B.: The adrenal cortex testicular relations in the fowl: The effect of castration and replacemant therapy on the adrenal cortex. Anat. Rec. 99, 177–197 (1947a)
Kar, A. B.: The hormonal influence in the normal functioning of the uropygial gland in the fowl. Anat. Rec. 99, 75–89 (1947b)
Lacy, D., Lofts, B.: Studies on the structure and function of the mammalian testis. Proc. roy. Soc. B 162, 188–197 (1965)
Lacy, D., Pettitt, A. J.: Transmission electron microscopy and the production of steroids by the Leydig and Sertoli cells of the human testis. Micron 1, 15–33 (1969)
Lacy, D., Pettitt, A. J.: Sites of hormone production in the mammalian testis, and their significance in the control of male fertility. Brit. med. Bull. 26, 87–91 (1970)
Lentz, T. L.: Cell fine structure. Philadelphia-London-Toronto: Saunders 1971
McGadey, J., Baillie, A. H., Ferguson, M. M.: Histochemical localization of hydroxysteroids by the hamster epididymis. Histochemie 7, 211–217 (1966)
Pezard, A., Caridroit, F.: Interpénétration surrenalotesticulaire chez des coqs castrés incomplétement. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 175, 784–787 (1922)
Pick, L.: Die Marchandschen Nebennieren und ihre Neoplasmen nebst Untersuchungen über glykogenreiche Eierstocksgeschwülste. Arch. Gynäk. 44, 670–838 (1901)
Preuss, F.: Eine Unterrichtsbegleitung, Berlin: Selbstverlag 1974
Preuss, F., Budras, K.-D.: Die reifen Eierstockszwischenzellen des Haushuhnes und ihre topographischen und ultrastrukturell-funktionellen Veräderungen. Zbl. Vet.-Med. C 1, 237–262 (1972)
Sauer, T.: Genese und Struktur des Nebenhodens einschließlich Rete testis beim Haushahn (Gallus domesticus). Diss. vet. med. FU Berlin 1974
Scheib, D., Haffen, K.: Apparition et localisation des hydroxystéroide deshydrogénases (β5-3 et 17 β) dans les gonades de l'embryon et du poussin de la caille (Coturnix coturnix japonical). Etude histoenzymologique et comparaisons avec le poulet (Gallus gallus domesticus). Gen. comp. Endocr. 12, 586–597 (1969)
Scott, T. W., Baggett, B., White, I. G.: Metabolism of testosterone by semen and the effect of testosterone on oxidative metabolism of spermatozoa. Aust. J. exp. Biol. 41, 363–368 (1963)
Tingary, M. D.: Histochemical localization of 3β- and 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the male reproductive tract of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). Histochem. 5, 57–65 (1973)
Voss, H. E.: Androgene I. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1973
Wattenberg, L. W.: Microscopic histochemical demonstration of steroid-3β-ol dehydrogenase in tissue sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 6, 225–232 (1958)
Woods, J. E., Domm, L. V.: A histochemical identification of the androgen-producing cells in the gonads of the domestic fowl and albino rat. Gen. comp. Endocr. 7, 559–570 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Budras, K.D., Sauer, T. Morphology of the epididymis of the cock (Gallus domesticus) and its effect upon the steroid sex hormone synthesis. Anat. Embryol. 148, 197–213 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315269
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315269