Journal Edition: April 2021
Article DOI: 10.5958/2277-8934.2021.00005.9
Published On: 04-04-2021 05:58
Mohamed Alkafafy
Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to highlight the seasonal variation of the immunoreactivity of the protein alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), within the epididymal duct of the male dromedaries. Immunostaining for detection of α-SMA was applied on paraffin-embedded sections taken from different regions of the epididymal duct from both juvenile and adult dromedaries, during the different seasons of the year. Immunoreactivity (IR) was mainly confined to the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) within the peritubular muscle coat and in the walls of the blood vessels. The intensity of IR displayed a remarkable seasonal variation in adults. The strongest IR has been recorded in all epididymal regions (head, body and tail), during the breeding season (corresponds to winter months). In the season of breeding inactivity (corresponds to summer months), the α-SMA-IR exhibited the lowest intensity. During the period of transition from activity to inactivity (corresponds to spring months) and from inactivity to activity (corresponds to autumn months), a moderate α-SMA-IR has been reported. On the other hand, a weak to moderate immunoreactivity for α-SMA appeared mainly in innermost layers of the peritubular cells surrounding the epididymal duct of the juvenile dromedaries throughout the year. In conclusion, both of the sexual maturity and the breeding seasonality demonstrated a clear impact on the immunostaining for α-SMA in male dromedaries. This may be relevant to the physiological alterations that are linked to hormonal control throughout the year.
Key words: Alpha smooth muscle actin, dromedary camel, epididymis, immunohistochemistry
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