The distribution of autonomous nerves in the testis of the camel was studied by immunohistochemical methods. A total of 26 testes was collected during the different seasons of the year. As pan-neuronal markers, antibodies to protein gene product 9.5 and to neurofilaments are superior to antibodies against neuron-specific enolase and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry for the description of the nerves in the camel testis. Testicular nerves reach the camel testis by three access-routes as (1) funicular contribution, (2) mesorchial contribution and (3) as caudal contribution. The main target for testicular nerves is the arterial vascular tree of the organ, whereas all veins of testis and pampiniform plexus are devoid of any innervation in the camel. In the wall of the arteries, the nerves form a plexus at the media-adventitia border. The density of the arterial plexuses increases along the vascular tree: smaller septal and mediastinal arteries are better innervated than albugineal arteries and the latter better than the A. testicularis. The nerves in the septula testis, in the mediastinum and between the Leydig cells show clear seasonal changes, being particularly abundant in autumn and particularly scarce in spring. The nerves that reach the camel testis are unmyelinated and represent in the vast majority postjunctional sympathetic neurons. Cholinergic fibers are absent in the camel testis. Neuropeptide Y is the dominating peptidergic transmitter in the testicular nerves and colocalized with noradrenaline in the same axons. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibers reach the camel testis exclusively as parts of the caudal nervous contribution via the ligamentous bridge between testis and epididymal tail and are restricted to the caudal pole of the testis. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive axons are not frequent in the camel testis; nevertheless, they seem to be the most important sensory pathway of this organ.

The distribution of autonomous nerves in the testis of the camel was studied by immunohistochemical methods. A total of 26 testes was collected during the different seasons of the year. As pan-neuronal markers, antibodies to protein gene product 9.5 and to neurofilaments are superior to antibodies against neuron-specific enolase and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry for the description of the nerves in the camel testis. Testicular nerves reach the camel testis by three access-routes as (1) funicular contribution, (2) mesorchial contribution and (3) as caudal contribution. The main target for testicular nerves is the arterial vascular tree of the organ, whereas all veins of testis and pampiniform plexus are devoid of any innervation in the camel. In the wall of the arteries, the nerves form a plexus at the media-adventitia border. The density of the arterial plexuses increases along the vascular tree: smaller septal and mediastinal arteries are better innervated than albugineal arteries and the latter better than the A. testicularis. The nerves in the septula testis, in the mediastinum and between the Leydig cells show clear seasonal changes, being particularly abundant in autumn and particularly scarce in spring. The nerves that reach the camel testis are unmyelinated and represent in the vast majority postjunctional sympathetic neurons. Cholinergic fibers are absent in the camel testis. Neuropeptide Y is the dominating peptidergic transmitter in the testicular nerves and colocalized with noradrenaline in the same axons. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibers reach the camel testis exclusively as parts of the caudal nervous contribution via the ligamentous bridge between testis and epididymal tail and are restricted to the caudal pole of the testis. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive axons are not frequent in the camel testis; nevertheless, they seem to be the most important sensory pathway of this organ.

The distribution of autonomous nerves in the testis of the camel was studied by immunohistochemical methods. A total of 26 testes was collected during the different seasons of the year. As pan-neuronal markers, antibodies to protein gene product 9.5 and to neurofilaments are superior to antibodies against neuron-specific enolase and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry for the description of the nerves in the camel testis. Testicular nerves reach the camel testis by three access-routes as (1) funicular contribution, (2) mesorchial contribution and (3) as caudal contribution. The main target for testicular nerves is the arterial vascular tree of the organ, whereas all veins of testis and pampiniform plexus are devoid of any innervation in the camel. In the wall of the arteries, the nerves form a plexus at the media-adventitia border. The density of the arterial plexuses increases along the vascular tree: smaller septal and mediastinal arteries are better innervated than albugineal arteries and the latter better than the A. testicularis. The nerves in the septula testis, in the mediastinum and between the Leydig cells show clear seasonal changes, being particularly abundant in autumn and particularly scarce in spring. The nerves that reach the camel testis are unmyelinated and represent in the vast majority postjunctional sympathetic neurons. Cholinergic fibers are absent in the camel testis. Neuropeptide Y is the dominating peptidergic transmitter in the testicular nerves and colocalized with noradrenaline in the same axons. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibers reach the camel testis exclusively as parts of the caudal nervous contribution via the ligamentous bridge between testis and epididymal tail and are restricted to the caudal pole of the testis. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive axons are not frequent in the camel testis; nevertheless, they seem to be the most important sensory pathway of this organ.

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The gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of young (3 months) and aged (12 months) female wildtype C57/BL6 mice was examined by light and electron microscopy, looking for the presence of structural changes at early stage of the ageing process. Morphometrical parameters including body and gastrocnemius weights, number and type of muscle fibers, cross section area (CSA), perimeter, and feret's diameter of single muscle fiber, were measured. Moreover, lengths of the sarcomere, A-band, I-band, H-zone, and number and CSA of intermyofibrillar mitochondria (IFM), were also determined. The results provide evidence that 12 month-old mice had significant changes on skeletal muscle structure, beginning with the reduction of gastrocnemius weight to body weight ratio, compatible with an early loss of skeletal muscle function and strength. Moreover, light microscopy revealed increased muscle fibers size, with a significant increase on their CSA, perimeter, and diameter of both type I and type II muscle fibers, and a reduction in the percentage of muscle area occupied by type II fibers. Enhanced connective tissue infiltrations, and the presence of centrally nucleated muscle fibers, were also found in aged mice. These changes may underlie an attempt to compensate the loss of muscle mass and muscle fibers number. Furthermore, electron microscopy discovered a significant age-dependent increase in the length of sarcomeres, I and H bands, and reduction on the overlapped actin/myosin length, supporting contractile force loss with age. Electron microscopy also showed an increased number and CSA of IFM with age, which may reveal more endurance at 12 months of age. Together, mice at early stage of aging already show significant changes in gastrocnemius muscle morphology and ultrastructure that are suggestive of the onset of sarcopenia.

The gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of young (3 months) and aged (12 months) female wildtype C57/BL6 mice was examined by light and electron microscopy, looking for the presence of structural changes at early stage of the ageing process. Morphometrical parameters including body and gastrocnemius weights, number and type of muscle fibers, cross section area (CSA), perimeter, and feret's diameter of single muscle fiber, were measured. Moreover, lengths of the sarcomere, A-band, I-band, H-zone, and number and CSA of intermyofibrillar mitochondria (IFM), were also determined. The results provide evidence that 12 month-old mice had significant changes on skeletal muscle structure, beginning with the reduction of gastrocnemius weight to body weight ratio, compatible with an early loss of skeletal muscle function and strength. Moreover, light microscopy revealed increased muscle fibers size, with a significant increase on their CSA, perimeter, and diameter of both type I and type II muscle fibers, and a reduction in the percentage of muscle area occupied by type II fibers. Enhanced connective tissue infiltrations, and the presence of centrally nucleated muscle fibers, were also found in aged mice. These changes may underlie an attempt to compensate the loss of muscle mass and muscle fibers number. Furthermore, electron microscopy discovered a significant age-dependent increase in the length of sarcomeres, I and H bands, and reduction on the overlapped actin/myosin length, supporting contractile force loss with age. Electron microscopy also showed an increased number and CSA of IFM with age, which may reveal more endurance at 12 months of age. Together, mice at early stage of aging already show significant changes in gastrocnemius muscle morphology and ultrastructure that are suggestive of the onset of sarcopenia.

The gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of young (3 months) and aged (12 months) female wildtype C57/BL6 mice was examined by light and electron microscopy, looking for the presence of structural changes at early stage of the ageing process. Morphometrical parameters including body and gastrocnemius weights, number and type of muscle fibers, cross section area (CSA), perimeter, and feret's diameter of single muscle fiber, were measured. Moreover, lengths of the sarcomere, A-band, I-band, H-zone, and number and CSA of intermyofibrillar mitochondria (IFM), were also determined. The results provide evidence that 12 month-old mice had significant changes on skeletal muscle structure, beginning with the reduction of gastrocnemius weight to body weight ratio, compatible with an early loss of skeletal muscle function and strength. Moreover, light microscopy revealed increased muscle fibers size, with a significant increase on their CSA, perimeter, and diameter of both type I and type II muscle fibers, and a reduction in the percentage of muscle area occupied by type II fibers. Enhanced connective tissue infiltrations, and the presence of centrally nucleated muscle fibers, were also found in aged mice. These changes may underlie an attempt to compensate the loss of muscle mass and muscle fibers number. Furthermore, electron microscopy discovered a significant age-dependent increase in the length of sarcomeres, I and H bands, and reduction on the overlapped actin/myosin length, supporting contractile force loss with age. Electron microscopy also showed an increased number and CSA of IFM with age, which may reveal more endurance at 12 months of age. Together, mice at early stage of aging already show significant changes in gastrocnemius muscle morphology and ultrastructure that are suggestive of the onset of sarcopenia.

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