Histological And Histochemical Features Of The Accessory Sex Glands In Bactrian Camels(Camelus Bactrianus)

The purpose of present study is to describe in detail, by means of light and electron microscopy, the histological and histochemical features of the accessory sex glands in the Bactrain camel to obtain more data which will supply a basis for the further research on the reproductive physiology, and then to promote the application of assisted reproductive technologies in the Batrain camel's breeding. The results were as follow:1. The prostate glands located on the dorsal aspect of the urethra, consists of a dorsal corpus prostatae and a ventrak pars disseminata. The colliculus seminalis revealed about 7-15 prostatic ducts. The secretory units are tubuloaveolar, lined by single epithelial cells with basal nucleus. Epithelial cells show PAS-positive and Alcion Blue-negative. The ultrastructure of epithelial cells were varies in different shape of the cells. The pyramidal cells contain little arganelles, while the columnar cells contain amount of Golgi apparatus and mitochondrias.2. The bulbourethral glands are paired organs located on the dorsolateral surface of the pelvic urethra, above the ischial arch. Bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands. The lobules of the glands are formed by secretory units and excretory ducts, which are both lined by a single epithelium of mucous cell with a basal nucleus. Three types of secretory unit, designated A, B and C, were observed in the glands. All the three types of the secretory unit show the PAS-positive and Alcion Blue-positive. Type B also shows the Toluidine Blue-positive. The ultrastructure of epithelial cell shows that amount of granules with different electron density occupy the most space in the cytoplasm. Secretory granules can contain round inclusion.Conclusion:The positions of the accessory sex glands are similar to that of reported species, but morphological differences existed among species. This may be related to the dry environment where the Bactrian camel lives. Histochemical analysis showed that the secretions in prostate glands mainly contain the neutral mucopolysaccharide. The secretory activities in columnar cells are much stronger than that in pyramidal cells. The secretions in bulbourethral glands consist of neutral and carboylated acid mucosubstances. Besides, the metachromatic granules were observed in the type B units.