Morphophysiology of the female reproductive system

ACUÑA F, FLAMINI M, BARBEITO CG & PORTIANSKY EL

lains Vizcachas - Biology and Evolution of a Peculiar Neotropical Caviomorph Rodent

Springer Nature

Año: 2024; p. 219 - 234

The organs of the vizcacha’s reproductive system are like those of othereutherian mammals. However, some organs exhibit species-specific morphologicalcharacteristics. The ovaries of the vizcacha are flat and have multiple folds, whichincrease their surface area. This unique feature enables the polyovulation of 200–800oocytes per estrus, the highest ovulatory rate observed among mammals. The morphologyof the oviducts and uterine horns is comparable to that of other mammals.However, the caudal segments of the uterine horns have significantly thicker walls,tunics, and glandular and vascular areas as compared to the cranial and middle segments.These anatomical differences have not been reported in other mammals.Studies on female fetuses have shown that the uterine horns already exhibit differencesalong the craniocaudal direction during prenatal life, which have been associatedwith spontaneous embryonic death in the cranial and middle implantation sites.Additionally, the vizcacha has a non-muscular cervix and a well-developed paraurethralgland (female prostate) found in all analyzed specimens. The expression ofglycoconjugates and glycosidic residues in the organs of the female reproductivesystem varies according to the reproductive physiological state.