Testicular atrophy in Alouatta caraya kept in captivity – report case

Abstract

This study sought to assess anatomopathological aspects of a case of testicular atrophy in a specimen of Alouatta caraya kept in captivity at the Centro Nacional de Primatas - CENP/SVS/MS. Semen and biometrical exams were performed for the testicles. The results demonstrated that the animal presented azoospermia and in the biometric exam the right testicle presented an average volume of 0.438cm and the left one 0.407cm, values considerably below of those recorded in the literature for normal males of the species. Upon inspection, both testicles presented a firmer consistency that usual and the parenchyma cut was darker. The histopathological exam revealed a marked reduction in the number of seminiferous tubules; some were totally atrophied and hyalinized. In others there was an absence of the germinative epithelium and presence of vacuolized Sertoli cells while the interstitial (Leydig) cells were found proliferated. It is concluded that gonadopathy was the result of a degenerative process, with the lesion at a stage of chronicity. Keywords: Alouatta caraya, testicular atrophy, reproduction.