Anatomicohistological characteristics of the genital tubular organs of the female brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus, Gray 1842) from Gabon.

The present study examines the anatomic and histological characteristics of the female genital tract of the wild brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus). A description of the macroscopic and microscopic features of the tubular genital organs based on observations made in 18 wild adult females is presented. The histological stains used were haematoxylin and eosin, 1% toluidine blue, PAS-haematoxylin and Masson's trichrome. Observations indicate that the fimbriated infundibulum of the oviduct completely surrounds and is attached to the entire ovarian surface. The uterus is bicornuate, being composed of two uterine horns separated by a velum uteri, a small uterine body and a cervix. In both pregnant and non-pregnant females, the uterine horns and body of the uterus present a pseudostratified, columnar ciliated epithelium containing sparse simple tubular glands. In pregnant females, the endocervical canal is filled by a viscous cervical secretion. The different patterns observed in the endometrium and myometrium of the uterine horns and in the vaginal epithelium suggest a relationship with the reproductive state of the brush-tailed porcupine female.