Morphological aspects study of spermatic cord in Pêga donkey

Abstract

We have studied morphologic aspects of 38 pairs of spermatic cord in Pêga donkey, and histologically observed that their components are involved for a slim capsule of dense connective tissue. Bellow this capsule we find internal cremaster muscle that shows distinct layer or arises septate by dense connective tissue invasion. Funicular capsule and muscular tissue form disordered plicae and also some expansions that sometimes are followed for intervascular loose connective tissue. Involving funicular arteries and veins, we identified loose connective tissue with elastic and reticular fibbers, with arteriolae, venulae, nerves and lymphatic. Testicular artery studied has sinuous course, internal tunica formed by endothelium and connective tissue, with outstanding internal elastic limiting lamina. Tunica media shows to be formed for smooth musculature, supported by a rich and orderly net of reticular fibbers and few elastic fibbers, while external tunica, constituted of dense connective tissue, with collagenous and elastic fibbers, has continuity with intervascular loose connective tissue. Testicular veins, involving testicular artery, to form venous pampiniform plexus and show variable caliber, a developed tunica media, constituted of smooth muscular fibbers supported by a irregular net of reticular fibbers and few elastic fibbers. Testicular arteries segments of spermatic cord have mean, maximum and minimum lengths, respectively, of 71.34 cm, 108.9 cm and 41.6 cm at the right, and 68.78 cm, 110.4 cm and 41.6 cm at the left, and do not have statiscally significant differences, at level of 5%. Spermatic cord has a conical shape, latero-laterally flattened, with basis settled over orchis epididymal edge.