Response of epididymal duct to the temporary depletion of spermatozoa induced by testicular irradiation in mice

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Abstract
The mouse epididymal duct can be histologically divided into five segments (I‐V), and the principal cells in segment II appear to secrete periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS)‐positive material into the lumen. In this study, male dd‐mice received one, two, or four 800‐R doses of radiation beginning at age 50 days. Mice receiving multiple doses were irradiated at 1‐week intervals. After irradiation, marked depletion of spermatozoa, or aspermia, occurred in the epididymal duct for 2 to 16 weeks after a latency period of 3 to 4 weeks according to the times of irradiations. During oligospermia or aspermia, PAS‐positive inclusions apeared in the principal cells in segment IV. The inclusions occupied a supranuclear position and appeared as round granules and globules measuring 2–15 μm in diameter, and increased in number, size, and staining intensity with time. They disappeared after reappearance of spermatozoa. The findings suggest that PAS‐positive material may bind to spermatozoa and, if not bound, is reabsorbed by the principal cells in segment IV and deposited as intracellular inclusions, and the prinicipal cells in segment IV and capable of digesting the accumulated PAS‐positive mateial.