Corpora amylacea in seminal vesicles and ampullae of tsessebi antelopes (Damaliscus lunatus)
Penzhorn, B.L.; van der Merwe, N.J.; Penrith, M.L.
Veterinary Record 133(10): 244-245
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8236642 Document Number: 416134
During investigations of aspects of reproduction in the tsessebes, seminal vesicles and ampullae from 11 male animals (9 adults and 3 aged 15 months or less) shot between May 1985 and March 1986 were examined. The seminal vesicles of all the adult animals and the ampullae of all but the youngest adult animals contained concretions of variable size which stained yellowish to reddish brown with haematoxylin and eosin and red with periodic acid Schiff. The larger concretions showed a concentric structure with more consolidated inner layers and granular paler staining outer layers. An outer ring of blackish, granular spiky material which was detached and adhered to the alveoli suggested a friable structure. Small bodies occurred freely in the lumina of the alveoli often with eosinophilic fibrillar material and desquamated epithelal cells and some alveoli contained scattered brownish pigment. No inflammatory reaction was associated with the concretions. Epithelial metaplasia was evident. Affected alveoli had low cuboidal to squamous epithelium whereas unaffected alveoli corresponded with the description of normal seminal vesicular epithelium. None of the concretions, which resembled corpora amylacea in the seminal vesicles of domestic bulls, were visible macroscopically. The authors suggest that the high incidence of concretions and the gradual size increase of seminal vesicles and ampullae with age indicate that they probably originate from retained secretions which may be consistent with the low mating frequency of tsessebes.