Surface morphology of the ducts of the epididymal region of the drake (Anas platyrhynchos) as revealed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

Both scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopic studies of the major ductules and ducts of the perfused epididymal region of the drake were reported. The SEM correlated with TEM studies and confirmed some previous observations that the non-ciliated Types I and II cells in the proximal and distal efferent ductules, respectively, possessed apical microvilli as distinct from the cilia of the ciliated cells. The relative number of each cell type in each duct was also revealed. All microvilli and cilia were regular in shape. The connecting and epididymal ducts showed 'craters' scattered over their entire epithelial surfaces. Also, a single cilium projected from most of the cells of the epithelial lining into the lumen of these ducts. The name, 'uniciliated cell' has been suggested to describe this cell which has, until now, been referred to as the non-ciliated Type III cell (Aire, 1980; Aire et al. 1979). Neither bulbous microvilli nor blebbing of the apical plasmalemma of the cells occurred in properly fixed tissues.