<div>Background: Equine spermatozoa acquire maturation and fertilization capacity during their passage from the testis towards the cauda epididymis and are concurrently stored in the cauda epididymis and ampullae of the ductus deferens. In case of sudden death or emergency castration, epididymal spermatozoa can be harvested and successfully preserved. Ampullar aspiration was not previously described, even though the ampullae of the ductus deferens and the ductus deferens are valuable sources of mature spermatozoa in equines. The aim of this study was to describe a technique to collect spermatozoa from the ampullae of the ductus deferens and the ductus deferens of stallions during routine castration and to compare kinematic parameters of these spermatozoa to spermatozoa harvested from the cauda epididymis of the same stallion.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Fourteen ampullae of the ductus deferens were successfully aspirated during the routine castration of 10 stallions, followed by epididymal sperm harvest. Concentration and motility parameters were assessed, computer-assisted and were compared to epididymal spermatozoa.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Ampullar and ductus deferens spermatozoa increased the total number of spermatozoa recovered by approximately 6%. Progressive motility (PM), velocity of the average path (VAP), velocity of the curved line (VCL) and linearity (LIN) did not differ significantly (P&le;0.05) between the ampullar spermatozoa (AS) and the epididymal spermatozoa (ES). Total motility (TM) was significantly lower (P= 0.04) in the AS group.</div>

Ampullar and Ductus Deferens Aspiration Increases the Total Number of Viable Spermatozoa Recovered from Stallion Extragonadal Sperm Reserves

Background: The appearance and interaction of spermatozoa with the tubular epithelium is crucial for selection of non-descript goats for breeding purposes at the appropriate time. Further, various interventions can also be made for faster reproductive developments in the goats under study. 
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Methods: The present study was conducted on the testes of non-descript goats divided into three groups, viz. neonatal (within 1 month), prepubertal (from 1-18 months) and pubertal (above 18 months) with 10 healthy animals in each group. The collected samples of testis were processed for scanning electron microscopic study and subsequently, the samples were viewed and the photographs were taken in the facility available at Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), OUAT, Bhubaneswar. 
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Result: It was found that the tunica vaginalis of both epididymis and vas deferens were having longitudinal and transverse folds with the depressions or troughs in between them. The epididymis and vas deferens were both lined by ciliated and non-ciliated types of cells. The ciliated cells showed tufts of cilia, where as the free surfaces of the non-ciliated cells were having microvilli. The luminal surface of the epididymal duct gave the appearance of a honeycomb due to the peculiar arrangement of stereocilia projecting from the columnar cells. Spermatozoa were found to be attaching with the epithelial cells of both epididymis and vas deferens, mostly in the pubertal goats. There was presence of apical protrusions on the non-ciliated cells in both epididymis and vas deferens. The luminal surface of vas deferens was raised at regular intervals giving wavy appearance with ridges and grooves. The present study would help in developing a baseline data on the scanning electron microscopic characteristics of different components of tunics of epididymis and vas deferens in non-descript goat at different stages of post-natal life under study. 
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Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Development of Epididymis and Vas Deferens in Non-descript Goat (Capra hircus) during Postnatal Period&nbsp;