Ectopic testis in coati (<i>Nasua nasua</i> Linnaeus, 1766)

This paper reports a case of unilateral extracorporeal ectopic testes in a captive coati (Nasua nasua) in the State Park of Dois Irmãos Zoo, Recife/PE, Brazil. The testicle was located in the subcutaneous tissue of the inguinal region not adhered to the surrounding tissues. After bilateral orchiectomy, both testes were measured, fixed with 10% formalin buffered and embedded in paraffin for histopathological evaluation. The left testis measured 1.2 cm width by 1.7cm length, and the right one measured 1.5 cm width by 2.0 cm length. The ectopic testes had seminiferous epithelium without post-meiotic germ cell lines. The non-ectopic testis had several changes in the seminiferous epithelium that indicated degeneration. In both epididymis, the lumen did not contain sperm and the major epithelial structural alterations were more distinct in the epididymis associated to the ectopic testicle. In conclusion, the ectopic testis and epididymis had lesions compatible with testicular exposition to body temperature. Non-ectopic epididymis and testis had minor lesions but could be related to the infertility of the coati.

INDEX TERMS:
Coati; Nasua nasua; ectopic; testis; morphology; histopathology; wild animals; Procyonidae.

Authorship

Débora C.V. Lima

Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil.Universidade Federal Rural de PernambucoBrazilRecife, PE, Brazil Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil.

Daniel B. Siqueira

Zoologico do Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Praça Farias Neves s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171011, Brazil.Zoologico do Parque Estadual de Dois IrmãosBrazilRecife, PE, Brazil Zoologico do Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Praça Farias Neves s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171011, Brazil.

Valdemiro A. Silva-Junior

Lorena T.B. Nery

Luciana C. Rameh-de-Albuquerque

Dênisson S. Souza

Cibele C.S. Melo

Erika C.S. Oliveira ^**Corresponding author: ecso21@uol.com.br

*Corresponding author: ecso21@uol.com.br

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures

Figures (3)

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Fig.1
Left unilateral cryptorchidism in coati. (A) The coati (Nasua nasua). (B) Left unilateral cryptorchidism in coati. Left Testicle located in the subcutaneous tissue of the inguinal region (arrow I). Right testicle with an ovoid shape and visualization of the epididymis under the skin layer (arrow II). (C) Ectopic testis without adherence during palpation. (D) Testicles (right and left) after surgical excision.

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Fig.2
Ectopic testis (left testicle) and non-ectopic testis (right testicle) of coati. (A) Right testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST) showing reduced height of the germinal epithelium, desquamation and vacuolization of germ cells. (B) Right testicle. Observe the sloughing of germinal epithelium characterized by increased space between germ cells, and primordial germ cell in the seminiferous epithelium (yellow arrow). A Sertoli cell (black arrow) without morphological changes and different germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. Round spermatids (Ar) and elongated spermatids (Sptz). (C) Right testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST) with vacuolated germ cells (arrowheads). Leydig cells (red arrow) in the intertubular space (Isp). (D) Left testicle. Ectopical testicle in coati. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Observe the reduction of the seminiferous epithelium height and vacuolization of Sertoli and germ cells. Between the seminiferous tubules, note increased intertubular space (Isp). (E) Left testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Note Sertoli cells with extensive cytoplasmatic vacuolization (yellow arrow). Observe absence of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium or degenerating germ cells (arrows). Leydig cells in large numbers (red arrow) and with normal morphology. (F) Left testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Sertoli cells with extensive cytoplasmatic vacuolization (arrows). Note the absence of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium or in an advanced stage of degeneration.

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Fig.3
Ectopic epididymis associated with the left testicle and non-ectopic epididymis associated with the right testicle of coati. (A) Non-ectopic epididymis. Epididymal duct (Ed) in cross section. Note the presence of cells in the lumen (black arrow) and some lumens without cells (yellow arrow). (B) Non-ectopic epididymis. Note epithelium of the epididymal duct with stereocilia on columnar cells (arrow) and vacuolization and pyknosis of the basal cells (arrowhead). (C). Epididymis associated with the ectopic testicle of coati. Epididymal duct (Ed) in cross section. Note the absence of sperm in the lumen (arrow). (D) Note absence of stereocilia on the columnar cells (arrow) in the epididymal epithelium. Pyknosis and vacuolization were observed in the basal cells (red arrow).

Fig.1 Left unilateral cryptorchidism in coati. (A) The coati (Nasua nasua). (B) Left unilateral cryptorchidism in coati. Left Testicle located in the subcutaneous tissue of the inguinal region (arrow I). Right testicle with an ovoid shape and visualization of the epididymis under the skin layer (arrow II). (C) Ectopic testis without adherence during palpation. (D) Testicles (right and left) after surgical excision.

Fig.2 Ectopic testis (left testicle) and non-ectopic testis (right testicle) of coati. (A) Right testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST) showing reduced height of the germinal epithelium, desquamation and vacuolization of germ cells. (B) Right testicle. Observe the sloughing of germinal epithelium characterized by increased space between germ cells, and primordial germ cell in the seminiferous epithelium (yellow arrow). A Sertoli cell (black arrow) without morphological changes and different germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. Round spermatids (Ar) and elongated spermatids (Sptz). (C) Right testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST) with vacuolated germ cells (arrowheads). Leydig cells (red arrow) in the intertubular space (Isp). (D) Left testicle. Ectopical testicle in coati. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Observe the reduction of the seminiferous epithelium height and vacuolization of Sertoli and germ cells. Between the seminiferous tubules, note increased intertubular space (Isp). (E) Left testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Note Sertoli cells with extensive cytoplasmatic vacuolization (yellow arrow). Observe absence of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium or degenerating germ cells (arrows). Leydig cells in large numbers (red arrow) and with normal morphology. (F) Left testicle. Seminiferous tubules in cross section (ST). Sertoli cells with extensive cytoplasmatic vacuolization (arrows). Note the absence of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium or in an advanced stage of degeneration.

Fig.3 Ectopic epididymis associated with the left testicle and non-ectopic epididymis associated with the right testicle of coati. (A) Non-ectopic epididymis. Epididymal duct (Ed) in cross section. Note the presence of cells in the lumen (black arrow) and some lumens without cells (yellow arrow). (B) Non-ectopic epididymis. Note epithelium of the epididymal duct with stereocilia on columnar cells (arrow) and vacuolization and pyknosis of the basal cells (arrowhead). (C). Epididymis associated with the ectopic testicle of coati. Epididymal duct (Ed) in cross section. Note the absence of sperm in the lumen (arrow). (D) Note absence of stereocilia on the columnar cells (arrow) in the epididymal epithelium. Pyknosis and vacuolization were observed in the basal cells (red arrow).

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Ectopic testis in coati (<i>Nasua nasua</i> Linnaeus, 1766)

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[1] *Corresponding author: ecso21@uol.com.br