الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was conducted on 40 New Zealand Rabbits. They are classified into 5 groups at 20 weeks old. Each group was subdivided into 2 subgroups (4 control and 4 castrated). The first group was sacrificed after 2 weeks of castration. The second, third and fourth groups were sacrificed each 2 weeks later (22, 24, 26 and 28 weeks old). The fifth group was castrated for 8 weeks then four of them were injected with testosterone propionate 4.66 mg/kg B.W./day for 10 days and the rest were kept as controls (injected with saline).
The accessory genital glands, liver and parts from the semimembranosus muscle were taken and quickly fixed.
The accessory genital glands were discribed and their dimensions were recorded using a calliper.
Paraffin sections of 4-6gm thickness were prepared and stained with different histological and histochemical stains.
1- The vesicular gland:-
It was located on the neck of the urinary bladder. It was in the form of vesicle with special character, the dorsal wall was thick crainially and very thick caudally, the ventral wall was very thin and membranous. It opened with the ampulla by the ejaculatory ducts in a crescentic opening infront of the colliculus Seminalis of the pelvic urethra.
It appeared as compound tubuloalveolar gland, surrounded by fibroelastic connective tissue capsule rich in interspersed smooth muscle cells. The gland was divided into lobules of various sizes and shapes by trabeculae derived from the capsule.
The secretory units were lined by columnar epithelial cells rest on a thin basement membrane. The secretion was released by an apocrine mode of secretion where bleb-like cytoplasmic projections were observed in the apical borders of the lining epithelium.
The basement membranes, interstitial connective tissue and the secretory substances showed PAS positive reaction where the gland showed negative reaction to the alcian blue stain.
The gland showed negative reaction to the glycogen. The alkaline phosphatase activity was found in the basement membrane and a light reaction appeared in the cytoplasm and nuclei. The acid phosphatase activity observed in the cytoplasm of the lining epithelium specially the apical parts of the cells.
The vesicular gland of castrated rabbit was reduced in size and the capsule appeared thicker than that of control one. The height of the lining epithelial cells was decreased. The secreation was decreased. The diameter of the secretory units was decreased and the connective tissue increased in amount. The cytoplasmic projections of the lining epithelium were disappeared.
The reactivity to the PAS was slightly increased. The gland showed negative reaction with the alcian blue and Best’s carmine stains.
The secretory units were surrounded by lymphocytic infiltration with the increase of the interalveolar connective tissue.
The reactivity to the alkaline phosphatase was decreased while the reactivity to the acid phosphatase was disappeared.
The vesicular gland of the castrated injected rabbit was hypertrophied. The diameter of the secretory units was increased, the
height of the epithelial lining was increased, the nuclei became vesicular and the cytoplasm became lightly eosinophilic. The secretion was appeared in the lumina of the secretory units. The alkaline phosphatase activity was reappeared while the acid phosphatase activity was not restored.
2-The prostate gland:-
It was formed from 2 lobes, closly adherent and located dorsal to the pelvic urethra just caudal to the vesicular gland.
It appeared as compound tubuloalveolar gland surrounded by dense fibromuscular capsule which consisted of collagen, reticular and elastic fibers in addition to smooth muscle cells specially in the deeper parts.
The glandular trabeculae extended from the capsule dividing the gland into lobules of different shapes and sizes. The trabeculae had the same structure of the capsule.
The secretory units were supported by a network of reticular fibers.
The lining epithelium of the secretory units was simple columnar variable in height according to the stage of secretion of the units. The lining epithelium showed bleb-like cytoplasmic projections indicating an apocrine mode of secretion. The prostatic concretions were appeared in the lumina of secretory units of old rabbit (The fourth control group)
The capsule, trabeculae, basement membrane, the apical parts of the glandular epithelium and the glandular secretions were PAS positive.
The gland showed Alcian blue negative reaction as well as to the glycogen stain. The alkaline phosphatase activity appeared in the basement membranes of secretory units, in the endothelium of the blood vessels and
capillaries. The acid phosphatase activity appeared in the lining epithelium specially the nuclei and to a less extend in the cytoplasm.
4, The prostate gland of castrated rabbits had thick capsule. The
connective tissue increased in the capsule and the trabeculae. The diameter of the secretory units decreased as well as the height of the epithelium. The apical cytoplasmic projections were disappeared. The secretion was decreased. The interstitial tissue was increased with an lymphocytic
infeltration.
The reactivity to PAS was not changed. The alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased while the acid phosphatase activity was disappeared.
The prostate gland of castrated injected rabbits was increased in sizes and the diameter of the secretory units was inceased. The epithelial cells restored their normal height, the secretion was reappeared in the lumina. The alkaline phosphatase gave a moderate reaction while the acid phosphatase activity was not restored.
3-The bulbouretheral gland:-
It was composed of 2 lobes situated caudal to the prostate gland on either sides of the most caudal part of the pelvic urethra.
It appeared as compound tubular gland covered by striated muscle fibers of the bulbocavernosus muscle under which a true connective tissue capsule was found. The gland was divided into lobules of different sizes and shapes by trabeculae derived from the capsule.
The tubular end pieces were lined with columnar epithelial cells with vascular, rounded nuclei situated towards the base of the cells.
The apical parts of the lining epithelium were highly reacted to the PAS technique. Some of the secretory units were moderatly reacted with the alcian blue stain and others were heighly reacted.
The gland showed negative reaction for glycogen and failed to revealed fatty material in sections stained with osmic acid.
The alkaline phosphatase activity appeared in basement membranes and capillary endothelium. The acid phosphatase activity appeared faint in the interstitial tissue.
4 The bulbourethral gland of castrated rabbit was surrounded by thick
capsule, the central cavities decreased in size. Lamina propria was increased. The diameter of secretory units was decreased as well as the epithelial height with pycnotic nuclei. The reactivity to the PAS not changed. The alkaline phosphatase activity decreased and the acid phosphatase activity was disappeared.
The bulbourethral gland of castrated injected rabbit was hypertrophied, interlobular connective tissue decreased. The height of the epithelial lining increased and the nuclei stained lighter and became vesicular. The diameter of the secretory end pieces was increased. The alkaline phosphatase activity was restored while the acid phosphatase
tactivity was not restored.
4- Ampulla:-
It was the terminal dilated part of the ductus deferens. Each ampulla joined the duct of the vesicular gland of the same side forming the ejaculatory duct, the later opened infront of the colliculus seminalis.
The mucosa was formed from anastomosed folds forming large fluid filled vesicles lined by cuboidal to low columnar cells with rounded vesicular nuclei.
The luminal contents are spermatozoa and lightly acidophilic materials.
The submucosa was occupied by the ampullary glands which supported by the interstitial tissue of fine collagen, and few elastic fibers as well as few smooth muscle cells.
The tunica muscularis formed from an inner thick circular and outer thin longitudinal layers.
The lamina epithelialis gave positive reaction with PAS specially the apical parts of the cells. And gave negative reaction to the glycogen and fatty materials.
The alkaline phosphatase activity was concerned in the basement membranes and the endothelial lining of blood vessels. The acid phosphatase appeared in the cytoplasm of the lining epithelium.
The ampulla of castrated rabbit was shrinked and smaller in size. The folding of the mucosa became few. The epithelial lining decreased in height. The secretion was decreased and the connective tissue was increased.
The reactivity to PAS was decreased. The reactivity to.alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased and the acid phosphatase was diminished.
5- Muscles:-
The semimembranosus muscle of control rabbit was formed from bundles of long cylindrical multinucleated cells (Skeletal muscle fibers). It
surrounded by the epimysium from which the perimysium extended inword surrounding the bundles of muscle fibers and each of muscle fiber was surrounded by the endomysimn. The diameter of the muscle fiber and the number of muscle fibers per microscopic field were recorded.
The reactivity to PAS appeared towards the peripheral parts of the muscle fiber. Few fat cells were observed in the perimysium. The glycogen was illdistinct by using Best’s carmine stain.
The muscle of the castrated rabbit was similar in structure to that of the control one but the average diameter of muscle fibers was decreased and the average number per microscopic field was decreased.
The distribution of fat cells and fat droplets were increased in the perimysiurn.
The reactivity to the PAS was decreased.
6- The liver:-
The liver of rabbit of control groups was formed from illdistinct hepatic lobules. The hepatocytes were arranged in hepatic cords of one-cell thick with clear intermingled blood sinosoids. The hepatocytes were polyhedral in shape with spherical vesicular nuclei. Few cytoplasmic vacuoles were encountered in some hepatocytes.
The average diameter of the hepatocytes and the number of them per microscopic field were recorded.
The PAS reaction appeared in the peripheral margins of the hepatocytes. The glycogen was distributed allover the liver cells. The alkaline and acid phosphatases were illdistinct in the liver cells. Also low affinity of the hepatocytes to osmic acid stain was observed.
The pyroninophilia was moderate and evenly distributed in the hepatocytes specially that near from the portal area.
The liver of the castrated groups was similar in structure to that of the control group except that the diamter of the hepatocytes was decreased. The reactivity to the PAS technique, glycogen and the
fi pyroninophilia was decreased.