Morphology of the female reproductive organs of the African lion (Panthera leo)

Abstract

The topography and splanchnology of the reproductive organs of the African lioness were studied and described in situ and after removal. The kidneys were located far caudally in relation to the thirteenth ribs. The suspensory ligament was very well developed, originated in a fan‐like manner from the dorsolateral abdominal wall lateral to the kidney and extended up to a few centimetres cranial to the kidney. The proper ligament of the ovary as well as the round ligament was well developed. The round ligament inserted on the medial femoral fascia. The left ovary was bigger than the right. The ovarian bursa had a short mesosalpinx that did not cover any part of the ovary and the fimbriae extended along the entire length. The urethral tuberculum as well as the urethral crest were well developed. The left uterine horn was longer than the right. The uterine tube was found to open directly into the tip of the uterine horn and not onto a papilla. The reproductive organs of the lioness resembled those of the domestic cat and dog but with some major differences.

Single‐Incision Laparoscopic Sterilization of the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

“…Physical contraction of the suspensory ligament in the cheetah was observed (Video clip 2) similar to that reported in the lioness . Contraction of the mesosalpinx was also noted in 1 cheetah.…”

“…36 Physical contraction of the suspensory ligament in the cheetah was observed (Video clip 2) similar to that reported in the lioness. 40 Contraction of the mesosalpinx was also noted in 1 cheetah. These contractions seemed to be induced by physical manipulation and prompts further investigation of the histologic composition and the functionality of the suspensory and broad ligaments.…”

Morphology of the Uterotubal Junction of the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

“…The cheetah is similar to the cat, dog, rat, pig‐tailed monkey, and rhesus monkey in possessing an intramural portion ( Pars uterina ) of the isthmus (Hook and Hafez, ; Hafez and Black, ) and which is reportedly absent in the cow, sheep, rabbit, and pig (Hook and Hafez, ). No specific information on the occurrence of this segment of the isthmus has been presented for the lioness (Hartman et al, ). An additional feature in the cheetah was the presence of a conspicuous blood vessel on the surface of the isthmus and ampulla not previously reported in other species.…”

“…The uterine tube terminates in a papilla in the cat although details regarding its morphology are lacking (Crouch, ; Hafez and Black, ). No mention is made of a macroscopically visible papilla in the lioness (Hartman et al, ) although the possible presence of a microscopic papilla similar to that observed in the cheetah cannot be ruled out. The uterine tube also opens on a papilla in the horse (Mouguelar et al, ) and rat, whereas in the dog and mouse the isthmus opens through a slit‐like ostium on a mound that projects into the uterine lumen (Hook and Hafez, ; Hafez and Black, ).…”

“…This layer is absent in the cheetah similar to the situation in the pig, dog (Hook and Hafez, 1968), and cat (Hafez and Black, 1969b;Bansal and Varinder, 2008). Information is lacking for the lioness (Hartman et al, 2012).…”