Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2013.624.629"Clarias Gariepinus" From Egypt]]>AhmedYasser A. SameiNada A. Abdel ZayedAhmed Z. 1220131613Knowledge of the normal reproductive biology of catfish is of a great importance not only for better understanding of the theory of fish development, but also to be used as a baseline for understanding the pathological changes results form exposure to harmful toxicants. Thus, the aim of the current study was to elucidate the gross anatomical and light microscopic features of the testes of the catfish Clarias gariepinus from Egypt. The present study was carried out on 36 mature male catfish (Clarias gariepinus) collected monthly during the spawning period (April-September) throughout the Nile River, crossing Sohag city in Egypt, in the year 2011. Samples were processed for light and electron microscopy. Each testis consisted of two regions, a fringed outer lateral region and a smooth sagittal-medial region. Histological examination revealed that the testis was covered with a highly vascular connective tissue capsule sending septa dividing the testis into seminiferous lobules separated by interstitial connective tissue containing steroid secreting Leydig cells. Seminiferous lobules were made up of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells; the spermatogenic cells located within cysts formed by the cytoplasmic projections of the Sertoli cells. According to the maturation stages, the seminiferous lobules were classified into three types. Spermatogenic seminiferous lobules were lined with different spermatogenic cells but had few or no spermatozoa. Pubertal seminiferous lobules were packed with spermatozoa with few spermatogenic cells. Spent seminiferous lobules contained remnants of spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells. In conclusion, the testis of catfish Clarias gariepinus from Egypt was similar in structure to other catfish and teleost species.]]>Ahmed, Y., M.M. Abd-Elhamied and G.K.M. Ali,201254250Cek, S. and E. Yilmaz,2007Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) cultured under laboratory conditions.]]>13546Chaves-Pozo, E., V. Mulero, J. Meseguer and A.G. Ayala,2005Sparus aurata L.).]]>72593601Meisner, A.D., J.R. Burns, S.H. Weitzman and L.R. Malabarba,2000Trachelyopterus lucenai and T. galeatus (Teleostei: Auchenipteridae).]]>246313342Friedlander, R.C., L.D. Olson and E.L. McCune,199236101107Garg, S.K. and B.I. Sundararaj,1985Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) to various combinations of photoperiod and temperature.]]>58616627Grier, H.J.,198121345357Lawson, E.O.,2011Periophthalmus papilio (Bloch and Schneider 1801) from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria.]]>74859Loir, M., C. Cauty, P. Planquette and P.Y. Le Bail,198924556Lopes, D.C.J.R., N. Bazzoli, M.F.G. Brito and T.A. Maria,2004Conorhynchus conirostris.]]>6414191424Matos, E., M.N.S. Santos and C. Azevedo,2002Satanoperca jurupari (Heckel, 1840) (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Amazon River.]]>62847852Nobrega, R.H. and I. Quagio-Grassiotto,2007Serrasalmus spilopleura (Characiformes, Characidae): An ultrastructural and enzyme study.]]>329339349Santos, J.E., N. Bazzoli, E. Rizzo and G.B. Santos,2001Iheringichthys labrosus (Lutken, 1874) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae).]]>33533540Schulz, R.W., L.R. de Franca, J.J. Lareyre, F. Le Gac, H. Chiarini-Garcia, R.H. Nobrega and T. Miura,2010165390411Shrestha, T.K. and S.S. Khanna,1978100210220Suwanjarat, J., T. Amornsakun, L. Thongboon and P. Boonyoung,2005Oxyeleotris marmoratus Bleeker, 1852 (Teleostei, Gobiidae).]]>27425436Teugels, G.G.,19969934Van Dyk, J.C. and G.M. Pieterse,2008Clarias gariepinus) as reference for future toxicological assessments.]]>24415422Verreth, J., E.H. Eding, G.R.M. Rao, F. Huskens and H. Segner,1993Clarias gariepinus and Clarias batrachus.]]>24135144Wright, J.J.,20092009