Fig. 8
Effect of hindlimb unloading on reproductive organs morphology. a: photomicrograph of testes of the control group showing normal spermatogonia (arrow head) with preserved spermatogenesis (arrow) and spermiogenesis (curved arrow) with the presence of normal population of sperms within seminiferous tubules lumina (stars). The testes of the HU group demonstrating necrotic spermatogenic cells (arrow heads), atrophied seminiferous tubules (thick arrow) with increase in the interstitial tissues (curved arrows) and mild congestion of the testicular blood vessels (arrow). b: Photomicrograph of the epididymis of the control group revealing normal columnar epithelial lining the epididymis (arrow) with large number of mature sperms inside the tubules (stars). The epididymis of the HU group showing reduction of the collected sperms (stars), intertubular edema (arrow heads) and relatively normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium lining the epididymal tubules (arrow). c: Seminal vesicle of the control group showing columnar epithelial lining the secretory acini (arrow) with normal eosinophilic secretion (stars). The seminal vesicles of the HU group showing mild interstitial congestion (curved arrow), mild hyperplastic epithelial lining (arrow) with secretory products (star) and desquamated epithelium on their lumina (arrow head). d: Photomicrograph of the control group prostate showing normal glandular tissue with columnar epithelial lining (arrows) and acidophilic secretion (stars). The prostate gland of HU group exhibiting cuboidal epithelial lining the acini (arrows) with less secretory products (stars). Scale bar = 100 μM