Histologia testicular do lagarto Ameivula ocellifera (SPIX, 1825) (SAURIA: TEIIDAE)

Abstract

Studies focused on understanding the testicular histology reptiles are relatively scarce. For the species Ameivula ocellifera, details of histological morphology of testis are not known. Thus, this study characterized the histological morphology of testicular A. ocellifera, providing useful information to understand the reproductive biology of the species. The germinal epithelium cells were similar morphologically to the cells of other reptiles already described. Among the seminiferous tubules was observed little interstitial tissue but relatively high amount of Leydig cells, present in all the reproductive stages described for the species. The nucleus of the Sertoli cells had varying shape, usually located at the base of the germinal epithelium. The cells of the spermatogenic lineage showed morphological and structural similarities quite similar to those described for other reptiles. The finding of spermiogenesis process going on throughout the year, reaffirms the continued reproductive classification of species. The description of the histology performed this work allows comparative histological studies between reptiles and provides useful information for the development of other works for the species.