A chemical and histochemical study of alkaline phosphatase and aliesterase in the epldidymis of normal and castrate mice.

Spermatozoa occupy several days in their passage through the cpididymal canal (Mason and Shaver, '52). During this time the spermatozoa acquire increased fertilizing power (Young, '31). These facts suggest that the epididymal cells and their secretory products may play a dual role. First, they may actively participate in the differentiation of the sperm cells ; secondly, they must contribute to the well-being of the spermatozoa by making available nutrients or otherwise maintaining a compatible environment. Few attempts have been made to study the enzymatic characteristics of these epididymal cells by modern histochemical methods. Wislocki ( '49) has investigated alkaline phosphatase in the epididymis of the Virginia deer, Maneely ( ' 5 5 ) has described the distribution of alkaline phosphatase and certain polysaccharides in the epididymis of the rat, and Iwahashi ( ' 5 2 ) has studied the localization of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the epididymis of the lizard. No other studies of a complete nature have been carried out histochemically on this tissue although several incidental observations appear in the literature (e.g., Chessick, '53 ; Fishman and Baker, '56 ; Montagna, '52 : Nicander, '54).