Effects of diethylstilbestrol and zeranol on the microscopical features in the ovine epididymis

Abstract

We carried out a study of the microscopic epididymal changes in 38 Churra breed lambs induced by the administration of DES and zeranol performed by different viae. For the histological study the epididymes were examined at three different segments: initial, middle and terminal. With zeranol we observed a decrease in the diameter of the epididymal duct also these ducts were lined by an inmature epithelium without stereocilia specially in the implanted lambs. In the tubular epithelium of DES treated lambs we usually found principal cell vaculation as well as basal cell proliferation and leucocitary infiltrates which formed cumulus into the tubular lumen. These findings were more evident at the terminal segment of the epididymis. At this segment DES produced tubular dilation and large cystic forms lined by a flattened epithelium without stereocilia. Specially in the terminal segment of the epididymis with DES we found fibromuscular hyperplasia as well as nodular or diffuse mononuclear cell infiltrates, difuse mononuclear infiltrates.