Indian Journal of Small Ruminants (The)

A study was conducted on the corpus epididymis of 18 male Assam goats divided into six groups on the basis of age viz. I (0 day), II (2 months), III (4 months), IV (6 months), V (8 months) and VI (10 months) consisting of three animals in each group. The corpus epididymides were covered by a thick capsule composed principally of collagen fibres. Circularly arranged smooth muscle cells formed 3 to 4 layers peripheral to the basement membrane of each tubule in all the male goats except in day-old kids (G-I). The epididymal tubules were unorganized interrupted epithelium in day-old kids (G-I), distinct tubules being established from 2 month of age (G-II). Well-developed pseudo-stratified tubular epithelium was noticed from 4 month of age (G-III) onwards with principal, basal and apical cells. Sperm cells were observed in the lumina of the epididymides from 6 month of age (G-IV).