Morphology of the vas deferens of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Baldan, C.; Orsi, A.M.; Viotto, M.J.S.; Baraldi-Artoni, S.M.; Stefanini, M.A.
Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology 35(1): 77-82
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1122-9497 PMID: 12762655 Document Number: 562003
A morphological study of the budgerigar vas deferens was conducted to demonstrate the electron-microscopic features of its epithelial lining. The analysis showed that the vas deferens of the budgerigar was found to be of a tubular and serpentine structure, continuous with the epididymal region and lined with stereo ciliated pseudostratified epithelium, which contained folds projecting into the tubular lumen and a characteristic brush border. The epithelium consists of ciliated and non-ciliated cells with different electron densities. Ciliated cells were characterized by two morphologically distinct configurations: some cells were columnar and other ciliated cells were longer, thinner and dark. Non-ciliated cells showed apical cytoplasmic expansions, which projected into the tubular lumen as protrusions.