Morphology and Histochemistry of the Ferret Prostate

Abstract

The gross anatomy, histology and histochemistry of the ferret prostate is described. The structure and course of the prostatic urethra and the ductus deferentes are also described. The prostate is the only accessory reproductive gland present in the ferret. The prostate consists of tubuloalveolar glands surrounded by fibromuscular connective tissue. Histochemical studies showed that the glandular parenchyma contained large amounts of sialidase-labile sialomucin as well as acid phosphatase and small quantities of alkaline phosphatase and proteins. The findings in this study are discussed in relation to similar studies in other animals and man.

Histomorphological Studies on the Prostate Gland of Donkey Equus Asinus during Different Seasons

“…In this work, the PAS-positive cells did not reveal any significant positive reaction to Best's carmine. Similar results were observed in dogs [5], buffalo bulls [48], and ferrets [68], where glycogen could not be observed in the prostate of these animals. These results were contrary to those observed in one-day-old poppy, opossum, shrew, camels, and young calves ( [5,11,23,45,56], resp.…”

“…Similar to that observed in the prostate of boars [6], dogs and cats [69], camels [24,26], and Viscacha [70], the prostate of the donkey was devoid of any alcianophilic positive reaction. This result was in contrary that observed in the prostate of dogs [71], goats [16], buffalo bulls [12,17,48], and ferrets [68] in which the prostatic epithelium contained alcianophilic positive granules.…”

Basic Anatomy, Physiology, and Husbandry

“…7 The preputial opening lies just caudal to the umbilical area on the ventral abdomen. 16 Each ductus deferens opens into the urethra at the level of the prostate. 7 The prostate gland is the single accessory reproductive gland in the male ferret.…”

Fetal Prostate Growth and Development

“…No large number of human fetal prostates at varying stages of fetal development have, as yet, been reported. The prostate histomorphogenesis of the mouse (7)(8)(9), monkey (10, l l ) , and other animals (12,13) has been studied. Collectively, these studies of mammalian prostate development demonstrate that the organ appears early in fetal development and originates as a series of ductal evaginations from the urethra.…”