Anatomical studies on the female reproductive tract of pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)

Abstract

The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is a critically endangeredanimal of wildlife species. Grossly, the surface of the ovary of both side showed uneven appearance due to presence of follicle at different developmental stages. The oviduct consists of three parts, viz. the infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus. The uterus of Pygmy hog was bicornuate type of uterus and it consists of three part-horn, body and cervix. The horn of the uterus was the longest and most coiled part of the uterus. The inner layer of the cervix contained some knob-like projection with narrow lumen. The vagina was located caudal to the cervix. Histologically, the ovary of Pygmy hog consisted of outer cortex and inner medulla. The ovarian cortex under study was occupied by numerous follicles at different stages of development viz, primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary and atretic follicles. The lamina epithelialis mucosae of oviduct were simple columnar ciliated epithelium. The mucosal fold of uterus were mainly primary and secondary types. The lamina epithelialis mucosa of vagina was stratified squamous epithelium.