The effect of different seasons on the seminiferous tubules and leydig cells of the testis for the adult rabbit of the local breed (Histological study)

Abstract

The season is an important  factor determine the efficacy of the sexual activity of the adult males of different animal species, in this study, Sixteen adult male rabbit of local breed were used to investigate the effect of the different seasons of the year on the histology of the testicular tissue, particularly the leydig cells. Four animals were killed in each season and segments of testes processed by using  histological technique. The results were indicated that the seasons winter and summer affect the seminiferous tubules reflected by subpopulation of different germ cells such as spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa.  Leydig cells were atrophied with deeply basophilic nuclei associated with poorly blood capillaries in between, otherwise the seasons spring and autumn effect on the same germ cells and leydig cells, but in this case there was increase in the population of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and the leydig cells were hypertrophied with the presence of cytoplasmic fat droplets and its nuclei were euochromatic, The blood capillaries in between these cells were abundant, these events indicated the increase activity of testicular tissue in both seasons, the (spring and autumn), While in winter and summer, this phenomena was contra versa. The present study was indicated that the spring and autumn seasons are the best for the progressed activity of the leydig cells and germ cells of the testicular tissue of the adult rabbit than the winter and summer seasons.