The morphology of female genitalia in Galea spixii (Caviidae, Caviinae)
Keywords:
Caviinae, Reproduction, Rodents, Vaginal closure membrane.Abstract
The yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii) is a hystricomorph rodent of the Caviidae family. In Brazil, G. spixii are bred in captivity to provide an alternative protein source and to preserve the specie. However, there is a lack of data on the animal´s female genital organs. Current research describes the morphology of the species´s adult female genital organs, regardless of the stage of its estrous cycle, and permits basic knowledge on its anatomy that will be a help for future projects in reproduction in captivity. Adult female genital organs of G. spixii comprise two ovaries with follicles at several developmental stages; uterine tubes whose epithelium and muscle layer thickness modify themselves throughout the isthmus, ampulla and infundibulum regions; double uterus and uterine horns with uterine glands that open to a single cervix which is linked to the vagina by the fornix; a variegated vaginal epithelium from different animals; a vulva with a clitoris trespassed by the urethra which features a lack of vaginal vestibule and the presence of a vaginal closure membrane. The morphology of G. spixii female genitalia has interesting characteristics such as the vaginal closure membrane and a clitoris trespassed by urethra that needs further studies. Other investigations on developmental biology could demonstrate a possible intrauterine masculinization in the G. spixii female.
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Copyright (c) 2014 Amilton Cesar dos Santos, Bruno Machado Bertassoli, Diego Carvalho Viana, Bruno Gomes Vaconcelos, Moacir Franco de Oliveira, Maria Angélica Miglino, Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.