%0 Journal Article
%T Histomorphological Studies on the Prostate Gland of Donkey Equus Asinus during Different Seasons
%A Alaa S. Abou-Elhamd
%A Ahmed O. Salem
%A Aziza A. Selim
%J Journal of Histology
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/643287
%X The objective of this study is to describe the histological and histochemical structures of the prostate gland during different seasons of the year. The experiment was carried out on the prostate gland of 24 sexually mature apparently healthy male donkeys (5 to 7 years) distributed over the four seasons of the year. The prostate gland was enveloped externally by a thick fibromuscular capsule. Fibromuscular septa arose from the deep aspect of the capsule dividing the prostate into variable numbers of lobules of different sizes and shapes. Each prostatic lobe was made up of compound tubuloalveolar glands and duct system. The secretory end pieces were lined with principal secretory cells with occasional few basal ones. The principal cells varied from columnar to cuboidal in shape, depending upon the studied season. The principal cells showed PAS-positive reactivity. Seasonal variations were observed in the height of the principal cell lining the secretory end pieces, in the interstitial tissue/glandular tissue ratio, and in the PAS reactivity in the principal cells. In conclusion, the prostate gland of donkey appeared more active during spring. This reactivity decreased during other seasons of the year. Minimal reactivity was recorded during winter. 1. Introduction The accessory genital glands were a series of glands situated between the vas deferens and the root of the penis. These glands are responsible for the secretion of the seminal plasma, which provides the substrate for conveying the sperm to the female and ensuring final maturation [1, 2]. The accessory genital glands of donkey were made up of ampulla ductus deferentis, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands, and urethral glands [3]. The secretory portions of the prostate were tubuloalveolar in rabbits [4], dogs [5], boars [6], elephants [7], bulls [8], equines [9], men [10], camels [11], and buffalo bulls [12]. In rams, the prostate was compound tubular [13], while in red deer and goats [14¨C16], it was of branched tubular type. The epithelial lining of the secretory end pieces varied from low cuboidal to high columnar cells as observed in rabbits, boars, elephants, bulls, common marmoset, camels, buffalo bulls, domestic animals, and men ([4, 6¨C8, 17¨C21], resp.). In dogs, the lining epithelium was simple, stratified, or pseudostratified [5, 22]. Frequently, flattened, large rounded, ovoid, wedged, or pyramidal-shaped cells were recorded between the lining cells of the secretory units of the prostate of dogs [22], shrew [23], camels [24], men [10], and buffalo bulls [17]. These
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jh/2013/643287/