Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies on the testes of the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The characteristics of the testes in the bactrian camel was investigated with histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The results showed that the testes, which were enveloped by thick tunica albuginea stretching into the testicular interstitium. The testes were filled with the interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules. The interstitium bear abundant vessels, collagenous and reticular fibres and interstitial cells including Leydig cells stained with inhomogeneous fluorescence by Hoechst 33412. Nerve bundles revealed by the antibody to neurofilament (NF) 200. These were primarily distributed in the capsule near the vessels in the testes. It was suggested that abundant vessels and nerve bundles play an important role in controlling the blood supply and temperature of the testes to regulate the function of the organ. NF200 was also expressed in the cytoplasm of the Leydig and Sertoli cells. The pattern of NF200 expression in Sertoli cells was accompanied with the different stages of the spermatogenesis in the bactrian camel.