Morphological analysis of the elastic and collagen fibers in the ram penis

ABSTRACT: The penis represents the organ of the male’s copulation. It is essential to know the reproductive biology and the morphology of the reproductive organs to increase animal production. In order to contribute to this knowledge and provides information on the ram reproductive morphology, the purpose of this work was to describe the distribution, based on light microscopy, of the collagen and elastic fibers in the ram penis. For that, were collected transverse fragments of the penis (root, sigmoid flexure, body and glans) of seven rams. The specimens were fixed in paraformaldehyde for 24h and destined for the histological routine. The extracellular matrix of the ram penis was composed of collagen and elastic fibers. The penis was enveloped by the tunica albuginea, consisting essentially of collagen fibers, which were arranged in two layers: an outer longitudinal and an inner circular. This tunic emitted septa that penetrated the corpus cavernosum. The elastic fibers appeared transversely and longitudinally in the corpus cavernosum, corpus spongiosum, and next to the neurovascular bundle of the penis. This structure was not different to that reported for other domestic ruminants such as cattle and buffaloes.

DEATH OF NON-DESCRIPTIVE MALE CALF DUE TO UROLITHIASIS FOLLOWED BY RUPTURE OF URINARY BLADDER

The objective of the present study was to report a typical case of obstructive urolithiasis and subsequent rupture of the urinary bladder, causing the death of a non-descriptive male calf. The calves were brought to a teaching veterinary hospital with the symptoms of abdominal pain, the absence of urination manifested by discomfort, straining, kicking at the belly, twisting of the penis and frequent but unsuccessful urination. The clinical examination revealed that the calves were dull, depressed and distension of the abdomen. Post scrotal urethrotomy was performed aseptically and a large calculus was removed from the position of sigmoid flexure of the penis. Another two calves were not subjected to surgery due to their ill health and all were died after 2-3 days. A postmortem examination revealed that the urinary bladder was ruptured and subsequently urine was mixed with peritoneal fluid. A haemorrhagic condition was present at the point of rupture and peritoneum and bladder was adhesion at the point of rupture.

Ultrasonographic localization and mineral profile of urinary calculi in young and adult bovine

The study was conducted on 13 male bovine animals suffering from obstructive urolithiasis to evaluate the diagnostic approach, surgical outcome and mineral composition of uroliths. The animals were divided in two groups, Group I (n=8) of young animals and Group II (n=5) of adult animals. B-mode ultrasonography was done for locating the uroliths in penile urethra. All the animals were subjected to urethrotomy followed by ultrasonography at the suspected site of urolith lodgement. Ammonium chloride as urinary acidifier was given @ 50 mg/kg body weight orally for 60 days was found beneficial for preventing recurrence of uroliths. It was observed that urethra heals normally in three weeks if left unsutured and the majority of uroliths were present at tip of penis in Group I and in sigmoid flexure in Group II animals. Staphylococcus species were the most prevalent bacteria causing bovine urinary tract infections associated with urolithiasis in both groups. It was concluded that ultrasonography was efficient to localize uroliths in urethra in both groups of animals. On Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy estimation, calcium carbonate, carbonate apatite in Group I whereas calcium carbonate in majority of Group II animals, were the most common types of minerals causing formation of uroliths.

Addressing the Problem of Poorly Preserved Zoological Specimens

We present a new use for a poorly preserved turtle specimen that teachers can easily use in demonstrating vertebrate anatomy or adaptive herpetology at the high school or college level. We give special attention to illustrating the sigmoid flexure of the neck as certain turtles withdraw their heads. This ability is anatomically and biologically important in that it protects the turtle from predators and is one of the major anatomical radiations that occurred in turtle evolution. The lesson also demonstrates how turtles, whose anatomy is confined within a rigid compartment, have their organs arranged and how adaptive strategies overcome this spatial constraint.