Histomorphological and Histochemical Postnatal Developmental Study of the Pelvic Reproductive Organs in Female Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

Abstract

This project was carried out to find out the structural histomorphological changes that take place in the pelvic parts (vagina and vestibule) of the female reproductive system of the rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) at three different postnatal periods of their life that were kitten, immature and mature does. To conduct such project, twenty four female rabbits were bought (8 for each age) from the local breeders. Rabbits were euthanized, dissected and subsequently vaginae and vestibules were collected and fixed with 10% neutral buffered formalin then subjected to routine processing, such as dehydration, clearing, embedding and block preparation. Finally, sectioning for 6 µm were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stains. Gross findings revealed that the vagina and vestibule in the local rabbits were characteristically very long tube-like structures. The vagina entirely was running ventral to the rectum together with vestibule in the pelvic cavity. Microscopic findings revealed prominent structural changes in the vagina of immature does compared to those of kittens and mature does indicated that immature does after the period of weaning face great developmental growth and changes. The microscopic changes in the vestibule were slight alterations and no age related changes were recorded. Statistical analysis revealed that the total thickness of the mucosa plus muscularis of the vaginal wall was decreased significantly in the direction cranio-caudally.In conclusion, the current study recorded differences in both macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the vagina and vestibule of the local rabbits compared to other animal species.

Histomorphological and Histochemical Investigation of The Vagina of Adult Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus)

“…The vagina was characteristically very long tubelike organ in the studied guinea pig. It was entirely situated in the pelvic cavity running ventral to the rectum and such observations were in accordance with those described by (4) in the female bovine genital organ and vagina of the west african dwarf goat (17) and in the local does (18). The latter references also observed that the cranial end, the vagina was coiled around the Portio vaginalis of the cervix as a vagina fornix which gave rise to mucosal folds as recorded in the first cranial portion of guinea pigs vagina.…”

“…These findings were in a good agreement with previous researches stated that the lining epithelium of the cranial part of the vagina of adult animals was different than that of the caudal part (23). Differently, current findings were not comparable with those in female rabbits where the lining epithelium was ranged from simple columnar (cranially) to pseudostratified columnar or stratified squamous non keratinized (caudally) which gave negative reactions toward the histochemical staining procedures (18). Differently in guinea pigs vagina, the mucous cells were stained positively with histochemical stains such as PAS and AB (pH 2.5).…”

“…The vagina was ended caudally by U-shaped vaginal orifice closed by a thin transparent membrane during the diestrous studied stage. The vaginal orifice was located between the anal opening dorsally and the urethral orifice ventrally so that the urinary and genital tracts were independent and such observation also recorded in the female agouti (19) but not in does (18) in which differently, urinary tract joint the genital one through the urethra-vaginal connection. The means of length the vagina was 23 ± 0.12 mm which was shorter compared to other animal species such as the vagina of female West African dwarf goat (5.07 ± 0.39 cm) (17), local does (8.3 cm) (18) and female agouti (72.8 ± 11.4 mm) (19).…”

“…The vaginal orifice was located between the anal opening dorsally and the urethral orifice ventrally so that the urinary and genital tracts were independent and such observation also recorded in the female agouti (19) but not in does (18) in which differently, urinary tract joint the genital one through the urethra-vaginal connection. The means of length the vagina was 23 ± 0.12 mm which was shorter compared to other animal species such as the vagina of female West African dwarf goat (5.07 ± 0.39 cm) (17), local does (8.3 cm) (18) and female agouti (72.8 ± 11.4 mm) (19). The vagina in guinea pigs was long and wide in diameter and markedly of three regions similar to that documented in the vagina of local does whereas in other species such as the golden hamster it composed of two distinct regions i. e. the upper vagina adjacent to the cervix and the lower vagina from which distinct pair of pouches were recorded protruding from the lateral walls that were extended caudally and also laterally and ventrally before terminating as close as to the vaginal orifice (20).…”

Ovarian, uterine, and luteal vascular perfusions during follicular and luteal phases in the adult cyclic female rabbits with special orientation to their histological detection of hormone receptor

“…Due to their friendliness, ease of handling and observation, and the potential for breeding, rabbits were a frequent species used as an animal models in scientific research in human and animal medicine [ 1 – 3 ]. Rabbits are induced ovulators; therefore, pregnancy is particularly distinct, which is just hours or days after mating [ 4 , 5 ]. Receptive doe displays a larger number of ovarian follicles with an increased estrogen hormone level [ 6 ], resulting in reddish swollen vulva and lordosis [ 7 ].…”