| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 3 | Page : 118-126 |
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Age-related changes in the testicular morphophysiology of the cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)
Jamiu Oyewole Omirinde1, Samuel Gbadebo Olukole2, Bankole Olusiji Oke2
1 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Jamiu Oyewole Omirinde
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jmau.jmau_84_20
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This study evaluated age-related changes in the testicular morphophysiology of the cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) using histological, histochemical, and sex hormonal profile approaches. Twenty (20) pathogen-free male cane rats were used for the investigation. Cane rats were divided into four groups: prepubertal (≤4 months), pubertal (>4 ≤12 months), adult (>12 ≤30 months), and aged (>30 months) of 5 rats each. Blood was collected from the different cane rat groups and processed for sex serum hormonal levels. Testes were also excised and processed routinely for variations in histology, histochemistry (using Masson's trichrome [MT] and Periodic acid–Schiff [PAS]), and histomorphometric evaluations using GIMP2 software. Testosterone concentrations were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the prepubertal to adult, while there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in this hormone between adult and aged. The concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for prepubertal, pubertal, and adult, respectively. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between adult and aged for FSH and luteinizing hormone. Histologically, there were scanty interstitial cells, lack of patent lumen, and incomplete spermatogenetic cell series in prepubertal compared to other age groups. Testicular capsular (MT and PAS) staining intensity increased with age advancement, while in the parenchyma, remarkably high intensity was displayed by the pubertal compared to others. Seminiferous tubular and luminal diameters (LD) significantly (P < 0.05) increased with advancing age whereas epithelial height (EH) was markedly increased in pubertal relative to other groups. In conclusion, these sets of data have shown that reproductive activity is directly related to age and is at maximum in adult cane rat.
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