The anatomy of the reproductive system in male Dutch rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with special emphasis on the accessory sex glands

Abstract

The morphology and microscopic anatomy of the reproductive organs and colliculus seminalis of the male rabbit are described and illustrated. Special attention is given to the accessory sex glands, because not all have been accurately identified previously. The terminology suggested for the accessory glands (with other terms commonly used in the literature in parentheses) follows: glandula vesicularis (glandula seminalis, vesicula seminalis), proprostata (glandula vesicularis, coagulating gland, prostata), prostata, paraprostata (glandula Cowperi superior), glandula bulbourethralis (glandula Cowperi inferior). The English equivalents are vesicular, proprostate, prostate, paraprostate and bulbourethral glands. Organs were obtained from 39 adult Dutch‐belted rabbits that averaged 2,023 g in bodyweight. Organ weights (means and standard deviations) were as follows: testis, 2.035 ± 0.529 g; caput epididymidis, 0.264 ± 0.087 g; corpus epididymidis, 0.046 ± 0.019 g; cauda epididymidis, 0.398 ± 0.123 g; proximal part of the ductus deferens, 0.098 ± 0.026 g; ampulla of the ductus deferens, 0.177 ± 0.069 g; vesicular gland, 0.529 ± 1.169 g; proprostate gland, 0.633 ± 0.304 g; prostate gland, 0.411 ± 0.181 g; paraprostate gland, 0.040 ± 0.019 g; bulbourethral gland, 0.390 ± 0.133 g; and epididymal fat pad, 0.545 ± 0.339 g. Correlations among organ weights were calculated and interrelationships among them and bodyweight are discussed.