Macromorphological description of the genital organs of the female beaver

Abstract

A description is given of organa genitalia feminina of the beaver, Castor fiber L. It was found that cervix uteri has two canales cervicis and the other paired parts of the uterus are not differentiated into corpus and cornua. The long vagina runs to the rear into a strongly developed vestibulum vaginae, opening together with the rectum into pseudocloaca. Vestibulum vaginae has the large diverticula lateralia vestibuli vaginae characteristic of this species, termed praeputial »glands«, in which castoreum is secreted.

Anatomical studies of the male genital organs of the European beaver

“…In the same way as in females, both the sacs producing castoreum, of similar dimensions and size, and the circumanal glands, are situated in this region. The first of these in females open into the region of the clithoris and are the lateral diverticuli of this region (Gienc & Doboszyńska, 1972), whereas in males they open near the penis and are quite clearly diverticuli fossae preputialis. Fig.…”

“…Problems connected with the cyclic nature of spermatogenesis in the beaver have been examined by Ivanova (1961). A more detailed description has been given of the macro-and microscopic structure of the postpelvic region (Nikulin, 1954), where the so-called "preputial glands" producing castoreum, described by Kacnielson & Orlova (1954, 1956, have been distinguished, also termed by Gienc & Doboszyńska (1972) and Doboszyń-ska (1976Doboszyń-ska ( , 1978 in females as diverticula laterales fossae preputialis, and the glandulae circumanales producing the fatty secretion used by the animals to lubricate their fur (Doboszyńska, 1977).…”

A method for collecting and staining vaginal smears from the beaver

“…Studies of the anatomical structure of the genital system in female beavers have shown that the true vagina of an adult animal (about 15 cm long and about 2 cm in diameter), ending in a short segment of the urogenital sinus, passes, together with the anus, by means of paired lateral recesses of the preputial fossa and paraproctial glands, into the pseudocloaea (Gienc & Doboszyńska, 1972;Doboszyńska, 1974). It was simultaneously found that the wall of the pseudocluaca, the lateral recesses of the preputial fossa, the clitoris, preputial folds of the clitoris and the uregenital sinus, are covered with flat stratified epithelium, cotrnifying and exfoliating irrespective of the phases of the sexual cycle (Doboszyńska, 1974).…”

“…Studies of the anatomical structure of the genital system in female beavers have shown that the true vagina of an adult animal (about 15 cm long and about 2 cm in diameter), ending in a short segment of the urogenital sinus, passes, together with the anus, by means of paired lateral recesses of the preputial fossa and paraproctial glands, into the pseudocloaea (Gienc & Doboszyńska, 1972; Doboszyńska, 0299] …”

“…It is well known that the vaginal epithelium is an excellent effector of ovarian hormones. Changes in the composition and structure of vaginal epithelium during different phases of the cycle are particularly distinct in small rodents such as the mouse, rat or nutria (Krupiński 1955;Nalbandov, 1966; Skowron--C e n d r z a k, 1956), and it may therefore be assumed that in the beaver, it should also prove possible to reveal changes taking place in the ovary by means of examination of vaginal smears.Studies of the anatomical structure of the genital system in female beavers have shown that the true vagina of an adult animal (about 15 cm long and about 2 cm in diameter), ending in a short segment of the urogenital sinus, passes, together with the anus, by means of paired lateral recesses of the preputial fossa and paraproctial glands, into the pseudocloaea (Gienc & Doboszyńska, 1972; Doboszyńska, 0299] …”