Vasculature of the mouse, rat, and rabbit testis-epididymis. 1982

C Chubb, and C Desjardins

The arrangement of blood vessels serving the testis-epididymis vas investigated microscopically in the mouse, rat, and rabbit. Blood vessels were visualized by infusing liquid silicone rubber into the vessels and subsequently clearing the surrounding tissue. Comprehensive illustrations of the vasculature were prepared from three-dimensional examinations. Arterial and venous vessels serving the testis-epididymis follow similar routes in all three species. However, the arrangements and characteristics of the blood vessels demonstrate dramatic species differences. For example, arteries within the testes have tight coils in the mouse and artery-artery anastomoses in the rat. Veins form vascular pathways that connect the testis and efferent ductules in all three species but also form a connection between the testis and cauda epididymidis in the rabbit only. Testosterone concentrations were determined in blood obtained by micropuncture of selected testis-epididymal veins. The measurements establish that the highest levels of testosterone are found in testicular surface veins. Also, vas deferential veins of the rabbit had significant amounts of testosterone. Studies of the blood-vessel volumes suggested that the volumes of arteries and veins in the testis are similar, whereas venous volumes exceed arterial volumes in all of the other organs examined. The studies provide comprehensive information about the architecture and physiology of blood vessels serving the testis-epididymis in the mouse, rat, and rabbit. Each species exhibits diversity in the vasculature and testosterone content of the veins. Veins connecting the testis to the efferent ductules and cauda epididymidis may provide for the preferential delivery of testicular secretions to androgen-dependent organs before the secretions are metabolized or diluted in the systemic blood.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008026 Ligation Application of a ligature to tie a vessel or strangulate a part. Ligature,Ligations,Ligatures
D008297 Male Males
D008815 Mice, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation. Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D011919 Rats, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding. August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D001810 Blood Volume Volume of circulating BLOOD. It is the sum of the PLASMA VOLUME and ERYTHROCYTE VOLUME. Blood Volumes,Volume, Blood,Volumes, Blood
D004822 Epididymis The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the TESTIS. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of SPERMATOZOA.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001158 Arteries The vessels carrying blood away from the heart. Artery
D013737 Testis The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS. Testicles,Testes,Testicle

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