Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-12-01
The morphology and morphometry of the epididymis in the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus Temmincks)
A.O. Adebayo, S.A. Olurode
Folia Morphol 2010;69(4):246-252.
Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-12-01
Abstract
The structure and morphometry of the epididymis in the greater cane rat
were studied in this work. In assessing the morphology and characterising
the morphometric values, a total of 15 adult male greater cane rats, bred and
raised in captivity, were used. All the animals had brownish perineal staining,
which was taken as index of sexual maturity in male cane rats, and they were
maintained on elephant grass stems with water given ad libitum. From this
work, the epididymis of the greater cane rat was observed to have a mean
weight of 0.0365 ± 0.091 g, forming about 0.016% of the total body weight
and an average volume of 0.36 ± 0.08 mL. There was a positive correlation
between the epididymal weights, testicular weight, and the body weight in
this animal. However, the gross divisions of the epididymis into head, body,
and tail were not conspicuous in the cane rat; instead it had two divisions —
the cranial and the caudal divisions. In addition, based on the histological
and histomorphometric analyses, five zones were observed in the epididymal
epithelium of this animal. This preliminary information on the epididymis will
serve as a basis for further research on the epididymis of the greater cane rat
and will contribute to the knowledge of the its reproductive biology, which
will subsequently aid in the captive rearing and domestication of this animal.
(Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 4: 246-252)
Abstract
The structure and morphometry of the epididymis in the greater cane rat
were studied in this work. In assessing the morphology and characterising
the morphometric values, a total of 15 adult male greater cane rats, bred and
raised in captivity, were used. All the animals had brownish perineal staining,
which was taken as index of sexual maturity in male cane rats, and they were
maintained on elephant grass stems with water given ad libitum. From this
work, the epididymis of the greater cane rat was observed to have a mean
weight of 0.0365 ± 0.091 g, forming about 0.016% of the total body weight
and an average volume of 0.36 ± 0.08 mL. There was a positive correlation
between the epididymal weights, testicular weight, and the body weight in
this animal. However, the gross divisions of the epididymis into head, body,
and tail were not conspicuous in the cane rat; instead it had two divisions —
the cranial and the caudal divisions. In addition, based on the histological
and histomorphometric analyses, five zones were observed in the epididymal
epithelium of this animal. This preliminary information on the epididymis will
serve as a basis for further research on the epididymis of the greater cane rat
and will contribute to the knowledge of the its reproductive biology, which
will subsequently aid in the captive rearing and domestication of this animal.
(Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 4: 246-252)
Keywords
domestication; wild rodent; reproductive biology
Title
The morphology and morphometry of the epididymis in the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus Temmincks)
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
Article type
Original article
Pages
246-252
Published online
2010-12-01
Page views
528
Article views/downloads
1816
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2010;69(4):246-252.
Keywords
domestication
wild rodent
reproductive biology
Authors
A.O. Adebayo
S.A. Olurode
About this article