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چکیده
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The structure of the male accessory sex glands and their ducts in Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) is described based on the examination of five adult hedgehogs collected in East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. Anatomically, the accessory glands were characterized according to their location, route, color and morphology. Hematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff and Alcian Blue stainings were used for histological and histochemical examination. The accessory glands of male hedgehogs consisted of vesicular, prostate, bulbourethral and urethral glands. Histologically, various types of epithelium such as pseudostratified columnar, simple cuboidal to simple columnar, stratified cuboidal and simple cuboidal epithelium were observed in secretory units of the vesicular, prostate, bulbourethral and urethral glands, respectively. The ducts of all glands empty into the common cavity in pelvic urethra. All glands revealed PAS-positive reaction while the urethral glands only showed Alcian Blue-positive reaction. This study exhibited that the anatomy and histology of the hedgehog male accessory sex glands have variations in comparison to other mammalian species.
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