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The presence of glycoconjugates in caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis of the Javan muntjacs was performed using lectin histochemical method. The epididymis organs were obtained from two adult male Javan muntjacs in hard antler stage and then immediately fixed in Bouin’s solution and processed in histological manner. Six types of biotinylated lectins namely Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Soybean agglutinin (SBA), Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), Concanavalin A (Con A), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I) were applied to detect the specific glycoconjugates in the epididymal tissue of muntjacs. The result showed the presence of glycoconjugates were detected by five types of lectins except UEA I in caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis with specific distribution and also the intensity of lectins binding. Glycoconjugates β-galactose, β-glucose, mannose, N-acetyl-galactosamine, N-acetyl-glucosamine, and sialic acid were stained with various intensity in epithelial cells, basal cells, stereocilia, spermatozoa, and stroma of caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The presence of sialic acid on the surface of spermatozoa detected by WGA are thought to be play a role on sperm protection during their maturation and transit along epididymal lumen. In conclusion, the difference of glycoconjugates distribution pattern and lectin binding in the epididymal caput, corpus, and cauda of the Javan muntjac indicates the regional differences in epididymal function in spermatozoa maturation.

This study aimed to analyze the muscle microstructure of longissimus dorsi Brahman cross (BX) cattle slaughtered at the slaughterhouse of North Aceh District. The meat samples for the study were taken from three male BX cattle aged 18-30 months with body weights ranging from 400 kg to 500 kg and the average body condition scores (BCS) of 3-4. The muscle used was the longissimus dorsi muscle. The mean (±SE) diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibers and the percentage of fast fibers in the longissimus dorsi BX muscle were 71.69±1.23 µm, 4263.43±305.69 µm2 , and 48.17±8.81%, respectively. This study concluded that the longissimus dorsi muscle of the BX has relatively large muscle fibers, some of which in each fascicle are composed of fast muscle (fast fiber/type II).