Gerentological studies on the epididymis of Gaddi goat (Capra hircus)

A study was conducted on the epididymis of 30 Gaddi goats, divided into three groups of 10 animals in each viz; Prepubertal (1 day old to < 18 months of age), Pubertal (18 months to < 5yrs of age) and Postpubertal (>5yrs of age). The study revealed that all the structures of epididymis grew gradually and consistently with age; however the differential growth was more appreciable during prepubertal and pubertal stages of life than in the later phases. In one day old kids, the tubular epithelium comprised of simple columnar epithelium, which became pseudostratified columnar at six months of age. The tubular diameter and height of the epithelium and its stereocilia also increased from birth to late prepuberty. It increased further in the pubertal animals and only slightly in postpubertal animals. Histochemically the cytoplasm of epididymis was PAS positive and Sudanophilic. Moderate to strong ACPase and strong AKPase activities were observed in all the segments of epididymis, which increased with age.