A histological study on the ovary of the African cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Abstract

The cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus is a relatively large rodent weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 kg. It lives in marshy areas along river banks. The histology of the ovaries was studied during pregnancy and non-pregnancy. The ovaries are charac terized by numerous preovulatory follicles and considerable amounts of well-vascularized interstitial gland tissue. During pregnancy the ovaries have many corpora lutea and there is extensive luteinization of atretic follicles and interstitial gland tissue. The number of corpora lutea in the two ovaries always exceeded the number of conceptuses carried to term.