Marsupial morphology of reproduction: South America opossum male model

ABSTRACT This study aims to describe the morphology of Didelphis sp. male genital organs (penis, testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, prostate, and bulbourethral gland). Ten male animals were used, eight for macroscopic and light microscopy analysis, and two for scanning electron microscopy. The tes...

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Published in:Microscopy research and technique 2013-04, Vol.76 (4), p.388-397
Main Authors: De Barros, Michelle Andrade, Panattoni Martins, João Flávio, Samoto, Vivian Yochiko, Oliveira, Vanessa Cristina, Gonçalves, Natalia, Furlaneto. Mançanares, Celina Almeida, Vidane, Atanasio, Carvalho, Ana Flávia, Ambrósio, Carlos Eduardo, Miglino, Maria Angélica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Connective tissue
didelphis
Genitalia, Male - anatomy & histology
Genitalia, Male - growth & development
Genitalia, Male - ultrastructure
Humans
macroscopic
Male
Males
Mathematical models
Microscopy
Models, Animal
Morphology
Opossums - anatomy & histology
Opossums - growth & development
Prostate
Reproduction
reproductive
Segments
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Summary:ABSTRACT This study aims to describe the morphology of Didelphis sp. male genital organs (penis, testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, prostate, and bulbourethral gland). Ten male animals were used, eight for macroscopic and light microscopy analysis, and two for scanning electron microscopy. The testes and epididymis showed similarity to other eutherian mammals. The bifid penis showed the urethra ending in the medial region where the bifurcation begins, occurring in each segment extension of the urethral groove until the beginning of the glans. Histologically, the penis consists of a cavernous and spongy body, covered by stratified squamous epithelium with loose connective tissue. The urethra was lined by transitional stratified epithelium. In the prostate, prostatic segments were found consisting of tubular glands in a radial arrangement around the urethra, coated externally by a dense connective tissue associated with a relatively thick layer of smooth muscle arranged in two layers that surround the glandular tissue. The animals had three pairs of bulbourethral glands placed at the membranous and cavernous urethra junction with descending and parallel excretory ducts ending caudally in the urethral lumen. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:388–397, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN:1059-910X
1097-0029
DOI:10.1002/jemt.22178