Ultrastructure of the urethra of the Mongolian gerbil.
OBJECTIVE
The urethra is the main port of entry of sexually transmitted pathogens. However, papers on the morphology of the urethra are scarce. The Mongolian gerbil is a rodent native of the Mongolia and China and has been utilized as a laboratory animal since the 1960s. This work describes the ultrastructure of the urethra of the Mongolian gerbil to provide data for future experimental studies.


METHODS
The urethra of ten adult male gerbils was studied by transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
The epithelium of the pelvic urethra possesses two cell types: I and II, without the formation of cellular layers, while the penile urethra possesses cellular layers: basal, intermediate and superficial. The urethra presents neurosecretory cells belonging to the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system.


CONCLUSIONS
The urethral epithelium of the gerbil is a neurosecretory epithelium, part of the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system.
Pinheiro
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PF
Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, Campus of Botucatu, UNESP, Rubião Júnior, Caixa Postal 510, CEP.: 18618-000 Botucatu SP, Brazil. martinez@ibb.unesp.br
Almeida
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CC
Segatelli
T M
TM
Martinez
M
M
Padovani
C R
CR
Martinez
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FE
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008986:Mongolia; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014521:Urethra / Q000648:ultrastructure*