AVALIAÇÃO MORFOLÓGICA DO SISTEMA REPRODUTOR MASCULINO DE Panthera tigris

Abstract

The wild felines comprise one of the animal groups under the greates risk of extinction. This case report aimed to describe the morphology of the reproductive organs of a male, adult tiger (Panthera tigris) that died during a surgical procedure. Fragments from scrotum, testis, epididymis, ductus deferens and penis were collected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses. Histologically, the reproductive organs were similar to other felines. The testis showed lateral asymmetry, with gonadosomatic index as 0.04, and the diameters presented by the seminiferous tubules and epididymal ducts were similar to those described for other species of wild felines. The penile urethra presented diameter of 1.73 mm and high caliber. The penis showed cornified papillae on the glans and other anatomical features described was similar to other felines.

Keywords

• anatomy
• histology
• male reproductive system
• wild felines