Macro-Anatomy of Male Reproductive Organs of African Striped Ground Squirrel (Xerus erythropus).

Abstract

In this study, ten African striped ground squirrels (ASGS) (Xerus erythropus) obtained in Zaria and environs with the aid of traps between January and May, 2017 were transported in iron cages to the research laboratory in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. After acclimatization for twenty-one days, the animals were weighed separately using a weighing balance (Fuji Keiryo weighing scale K-1, 210 × 210, 200g – 8kg) and then Thiopental sodium was administered at the dose of 30mg/kg to euthanize the animals. The testes, epididymis, ductus deferens and penis were then obtained by making an abdomino-pelvic incision and exposing the organs. Each organ was studied grossly. Observations for shape, colour and general architecture were made and photographs taken using a digital camera(Samsung SH100, 14.2 megapixels). From this study the testes of ASGS is dark-red in colour. The left and right epididymis is closely attached on the left and right testis. Each epididymis is anatomically divided into catput, corpus and caudal epididymis. The caudal epididymis has two aspects as the fixed and free part of the caudal epididymis. The penis is long and slender with an average length of 8.5 cm, and appears white in colour. The glans is covered by an external prepuce in the non-erectile state. The baculum is a sickle shaped single bone on the glans, and it has an average length of 1.9 cm. The prostate gland is a single gland just below the urinary bladder, the bulbourethral gland is located in the ishio-carvenosus muscle at the crura of penis, and closely attached to the distal aspect of the pelvic urethra linking the penis. The seminal vesicles are paired, and oval shaped glands proximal to the urinary bladder. In conclusion, the gross appearance of the male reproductive organs of the ASGS has anatomic modifications which is suggestive of its mating tendencies in the wild.