A possible highway system for the rapid delivery of sperm from the testis to the penis in the naked mole‐rat, Heterocephalus glaber. (31st July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van der Horst, Gerhard; Kotzè, Sanet; O'Riain, Mannus Justin; Muller, Nolan; Maree, Liana
• Is Part Of: Journal of morphology. Volume 282:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1478
• Page End: 1498
• Publication Date: 2021-07-31
• Subjects: ampulla -- bladder -- efferent ducts -- epididymis -- penis -- rete testis -- vas deferens; Morphology -- Periodicals; Physiology -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; 571.3
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-2525

Abstract

Abstract: Gametogenesis is suppressed in most members of the eusocial naked mole‐rat (NMR) colony, while the queen selects mainly one breeding male during her life span. Recently, it was reported that the NMR testicular organization seems to produce spermatozoa on demand after suppression of spermatogenesis during most of gestation. A Sertoli cell "pump" is then used to flush the spermatozoa into short tubuli recti and simplified rete testis to reach the excurrent duct system. We hypothesize that the components of this duct system are adapted for rapid delivery of spermatozoa to the penis and for numerous copulations with the queen. Therefore, the aim was to study the ultrastructure of the male NMR reproductive duct system using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The NMR rete testis gives rise to six to eight efferent tubules joining the caput epididymis. The caput epididymis resembles that of other rodents but with less distinction in terms of histological zoning. The remainder of the epididymis is considerably reduced in length compared to other rodents. In contrast, the vas deferens epithelium is highly specialized in that a vast range of vesicles, often closely associated with the spermatozoa, were visible. The large ampulla is a factory for merocrine and apocrine secretions, producing even more diverse vesicles. The transitional epithelial cells of the bladder appear to secrete abundant mucous and the penis as well as its baculum is relatively small. We speculate that these modifications strongly suggest that the excurrent duct system has been simplified and adjusted to compensate for the absence of long maturation and storage of spermatozoa. We propose that these adaptations to the NMR reproductive tract are associated with a state of degenerative orthogenesis that was selected for due to the absence of sperm competition and apparently rapid delivery of spermatozoa from the testis. Abstract : Degenerative features are evident in the excurrent ducts of the naked mole‐rat and large morphological modifications could be observed. The epididymis has been greatly reduced in length and the functional role of sperm maturation has accordingly been considerably curtailed. Instead vast modifications of the vas deferens and ampulla seem to have taken over the sperm maturation role of the epididymis by providing a whole range of vesicles that apparently support the sperm during their transit.