Pre- and post-natal growth of the human ductus epididymidis. A morphometric study

Abstract

A histometric study of the development of the human epididymis from the fetalperiod to adulthood has been carried out in males without testicular orrelated pathology, distributed into the following groups: (I) fetuses (betweenthe 28th and 37th week of pregnancy); (II) newborns (1-30 days of age);(III) infants (2-4 months of age); (IV) infants (5-12 months ofage); (V) infants (1-4 years of age); (VI) children (5-14 years[prepubertal]); and (VII) adults (15-60 years of age). Foreach age group and each epididymal portion (efferent ducts, caput, corpus andcauda epididymidis) the parameters measured were (1)total surface (epithelium + muscular layer + lumen);(2) the surface occupied by the lumen;(3) the surface occupied by the muscular layer;(4) total diameter of the duct;(5) total diameter of the lumen; and(6) the height of the epithelium. The results of thepresent study revealed that the development of the efferent ducts and ductusepididymidis follows a biphasic pattern. A progressive development occurs fromthe fetal period to infants 2-4-months of age. However, this developmentis transient and regresses during infancy (groups IV and V). At childhood(group VI), a definitive development is initiated and completed at puberty(group VII). These changes seem to be related to the androgen-dependence ofthe epididymis, the different stages of testicular maturation, and thesteroidogenic activity of Leydig cells.