Structural, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analysis of the vesicular gland in the male greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

This study reports the structure, ultrastructure, morphometry and distribution patterns of the two estrogen receptors in the vesicular glands of the male greater cane rat. Samples of vesicular glands from 15 sexually mature male greater cane rats raised in captivity were routinely processed for histological, ultrastructural and morphometric analysis, while immunohistochemistry was also carried out using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against estrogen receptors.The vesicular gland in the greater cane rat is a paired transparent elongated branched tube that presents a characteristic Y-shaped outline. The tube is made up of three histological layers: mucosa, muscularis and adventitia with the mucosa thrown into branching and anastomosing folds that form cavities and recesses within it. Though the epithelium is lined by principal and scarce basal cells, the principal cells are, however, of two types - light and dense based on their electron density and cytoplasmic characteristics. A prominent ultrastructural feature of the light principal cells is the presence of abundant mitochondria surrounded by well-developed cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum that have dilated edges and small vesicular extensions. The epithelial cells exhibited different patterns of expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalfa) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). The findings highlight the peculiarities in the structure, ultrastructure and distribution of the estrogen receptors of the vesicular gland of greater cane rat

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Ultrastructural features of vagina at different phases of the oestrous cycle in the female African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse).

The ultrastructures of the vagina at various stages of the oestrous cycle in female African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse) were described in the present study. At mid-proestrus, late proestrus (LP)/early estrus (EE) and mid-estrus (ME) as well as late metestrus (LM)/early diestrus (ED) and mid-diestrus (MD), complex interface of epithelium and lamina propria were observed. Cells of the stratum basale formed finger-like extensions into the underlying lamina propria and tips of the extensions displayed hemidesmosome while basal lamina followed the contour of the extensions. At mid-metestrus (MM) and late diestrus/early proestrus, well developed, relatively straight basal lamina interfaced between the stratum basale and the lamina propria without finger-like projections. Polygonal cells with indented nuclei and, cytoplasm containing ribosomes, polysomes, intermediate filaments, and mitochondria were observed in stratum spinosum at all the phases of the oestrus cycle. At MM, LM/ED, and MD, the stratum spinosum had numerous desmosomes with tonofilaments, large microvilli that intermingled at the intercellular spaces and evidence of trapped/migrating neutrophils and lymphocytes. The superficial layer displayed short microvilli at mid-proestrus, cornification at LP/EE and desquamation at ME while it showed condensation of intermediate filaments; projections of large microvilli into the luminal surface at MM, and embeddement of neutrophils at LM/ED as well as MD. This study looked into the reproductive biology of female African giant rats to produce baseline information on its reproductive organs and represented the first comprehensive description of the vagina at the ultrastructural level during oestrous cycle.

Biometrical and histometrical observations on the testis and epididymis of the African sideneck turtle (Pelusios castaneus)

Biometrical and histometrical observations were carried out on the testis and epididymis of twenty five adult African sideneck turtles (Pelusios castaneus) with a view to providing basic data that could be relevant in the comparative regional anatomy of the male reproductive organs of sea and freshwater turtles. The mean body weight of the turtles used in this work was 547 ± 41.4 g. The mean relative testicular and epididymal weights of the turtles were of 0.163% and 0.122%, respectively.The testis is sheathed by a capsule organised into two layers, the outer tunica vaginalis and the inner tunica albuginea. The highly convoluted seminiferous tubules of the testicular tissue had basement membranes lined with germ cells arranged in successive layers representing different stages of cell division. The epididymis had spermatozoa within its lumen, with about 5 to 8 ductuli efferentes found within its lamina propria. The epithelia of the epididymis and ductuli efferentes were lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules relative to those of the lumen and germinal epithelium of the testis, as well as the epididymal ductal diameter, luminal diameter and epithelial height of the P. castaneus, were all similar to those previously reported in turtles and other reptiles. This work provides baseline data on the gross and microanatomy of the testis and epididymis of P. castaneus, and is expected to be useful in the comparative regional anatomy of sea and freshwater turtles

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Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of the domesticated adult African greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus).

Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves were determined in twenty sexually matured domesticated African greater cane rats. Mean (+/-SD) sperm numbers in testes and epididymides were 150.40+/-12.93x10(9) and 259.33+/-13.68x10(9), respectively. The mean epididymal distribution of spermatozoa was found as follows: 67.53+/-12.43x10(9) in caput, 89.10+/-13.20x10(9) in corpus, and 102.70 +/-13.71x10(9) in cauda. This study provides baseline data essential for effective selection of male cane rats for breeding purposes.

A rare case of left additional renal artery in a Nigerian goat.

The report of the occurrence of additional renal arteries in domestic animals is rare in the literature. We report a case of an additional renal artery in the left kidney found in a Red Sokoto goat cadaver. The additional renal artery originated from the abdominal aorta 3.80 cm cranial to the origin of the main renal artery. The additional renal artery was relatively long, being 6.30 cm from its origin to the cranial pole region of the kidney where it supplied the kidney. This to the best of our knowledge is the first report in the literature indexed in the Medline of an additional renal artery in a goat.

Biometrical observations on the testesand epididymis of the domesticated adult African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Biometrical investigations were carried out on 23 biometrical parameters of the testes and epididymis of the domesticated adult African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), also known as the grasscutter. The average weight and age of the cane rats used in the study were 1.93 ± 0.42 kg and 18.80 ± 1.39 months respectively, with an average testicular size of 18.75 x 11.33mm. The average weights of the right and left testes were 1.18 ± 0.17g and 1.13 0.16g respectively, with a significant difference (p< 0.05). The average weights of the right and left epididymis were 0.32 g ad 0.30 g respectively, with no significant difference (p<0.05). There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.8214) between the age of the rats and the weight of the testes and epididymis. The average percentage body weights for the testes and epididymis were 0.12% and 0.03% respectively. Unlike testicular parameters, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the right and left epididymal parameters. The results showed that the testes and epididymis of the cane rat are relatively smaller than those of comparable rodents. This work provides baseline data on the biometry of the testes and epididymis of the African great cane rats, thereby making available data useful in comparative regional anatomy and reproductive biology (AU)

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