The Effect of Unilateral Cryptorchidism on the Macroscopic and Microscopic Structure of Accessory Sex Glands in Adult Donkey: a Morphological and Histochemical Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological and histochemical alterations of accessory sex glands in condition of unilateral cryptorchidism. Three adult healthy donkeys and three adult donkeys with unilateral cryptorchidism were selected and euthanized. Accessory sex glands were separated and were prepared for biometric studies. Microscopic studies were done on formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue samples stained by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) methods. Histochemical detection of lipid profiles was evaluated on frozen sections of tissue samples by Oil Red O and Sudan Black B methods. Histological alterations of the ampulla of ductus deference in animals with unilateral cryptorchidism were seen as trabecular thickness decrement, reduction of trabecular branch, decrease in secretory cells height and increase in glandular lumen diameter. In these animals, some structural changes were seen in prostate gland as mucosal folds height reduction and in bulbourethral gland as slight decrement in secretory alveoles and increment of trabecular thickness. Cellular alterations were not seen in comparison with control group. There was no indication of lipid droplets in histochemical studies in the experimental groups. The results showed that unilateral cryptorchidism leads to slight reduction in the functions of accessory sex glands, especially in intrainguinal ampulla of ductus deference.