THE TESTIS OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA AFRICANA)

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Abstract
Testis tissues from thirty-five elephants collected in Uganda, East Africa, were studied. The histology of the elephant testis was found to correspond closely to generalized descriptions for other mammals. The morphology of each cell type is described and illustrated. The cellular composition (in percentages) of each tissue sample was obtained by using the Chalkley technique. The relative abundance of intratesticular components in mature elephant testes are compared with like data for the human and rat. Nine phases were developed to express various cell associations of both immature and mature seminiferous epithelium. Analyses revealed that older animals frequently possessed a quantity of immature tubules. This phenomenon may reflect pubertal effects and/or cyclic influences. The phase values of the elephant are compared with those of several other mammals.

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