Three-dimensional structure of efferent and epididymal ducts in mice
Three-dimensional structure of efferent and epididymal ducts in mice
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DOI：
10.1111/joa.13006
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发表时间：
2019-08-01
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Iseki, Shoichi
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Nakata, Hiroki;Iseki, Shoichi
本研究的目的是利用三维 (3D) 分析阐明成年小鼠传出管和附睾管的详细形态。我们使用连续石蜡切片和高性能 3D 重建软件重建了三只成年小鼠的传出管和附睾管，以绘制所有导管的核心线。通过将 3D 核心线与连续切片的组织学特征进行比较，我们获得了导管总体特征的详细信息，并准确识别了导管分区。睾丸内睾丸网一处穿入白膜，转为睾丸外睾丸网，在距白膜0.5mm范围内分叉1~2次，产生4条传出管。当这些导管接近附睾时，它们再次会聚并突然转变为附睾的初始段（IS）。从白膜到 IS 的平均长度为 19.7 +/- 3.1 mm。在一只小鼠中，我们发现四个额外的传出导管从公共区域分叉出来，并具有盲端。附睾管是一个高度复杂的单一导管，没有分支，平均长度为 767 +/- 26 mm。根据附睾管的细胞学特征和高碘酸希夫染色能力将附睾管分为五个区域，准确计算各个区域的长度和直径。此外，我们清楚地显示了将头部附睾分为几个部分的结缔组织隔膜的位置。附睾管在每个节段内遵循复杂、蜿蜒的路径，同时沿着附睾的圆周整体绘制一个大螺旋。有时，相邻线段之间的螺旋方向相反。本研究揭示了成年小鼠传出管和附睾管的详细 3D 结构。
The aim of the present study was to clarify the detailed morphology of efferent and epididymal ducts in adult mice using three-dimensional (3D) analysis. We reconstructed efferent and epididymal ducts in three adult mice using serial paraffin sections and high-performance 3D reconstruction software to draw the core lines of all ducts. By comparing the 3D core lines with the histological features in serial sections, we obtained detailed information on the gross characteristics of the ducts and identified the duct divisions accurately. The intra-testicular rete testis penetrated the tunica albuginea at one place and turned into the extra-testicular rete testis, which branched once or twice to give rise to four efferent ducts within 0.5 mm from the tunica albuginea. As these ducts approached the epididymis, they converged into one again and changed abruptly into the initial segment (IS) of the epididymis. The average length from the tunica albuginea to the IS was 19.7 +/- 3.1 mm. In one mouse, we found four additional efferent ducts diverging from the common region with blind ends. The epididymal duct was a single highly convoluted duct with no branch and an average length of 767 +/- 26 mm. By dividing the epididymal duct into five regions based on its cytological features and periodic acid-Schiff stainability, we calculated the length and diameter of individual regions accurately. Furthermore, we clearly showed locations of the connective tissue septa that divide the head epididymis into several segments. The epididymal duct followed a complicated, winding path within each segment while drawing a large spiral overall along the circumference of the epididymis. Sometimes the direction of this spiral reversed between adjacent segments. The present study revealed the detailed 3D structures of efferent and epididymal ducts in adult mice.