SOME COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL STUDIES ON THE FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM IN THE BALADY RABBIT AND RAT ( RATTUS NORVEGICUS ALBINUS)

Abstract

The rcnwlc gcnit<ll system plays an important role in reproduction nl" <minwls. Both r<lhbits and rats are famed for their reproductive cnpahilities. The rabbit is an important animal for· meat and fur product ion. Both rabbits and white rats are used as laboratory animals for experiment8l purposes in medicine and biology.

Rabbits and rats have a very high success rate for impregnation, due to the fact that female rabbits and rats ovulate at the time of copulation (induced ovulation) breed all over the year. The gestation cycle is short in comparison with other mammals with averages 31 days ror the rabbit and 22 dnys for the rats .They can also breed imn1ediately alter parturition, with a litter sizes generally range between 4-12 in rabbits and 4-8 in rats. They reach maturity rapidly at 4-5 months of age in rabbits for most breeds and 50 +!- 10 days in rats as mentioned by Merck (2000 ) .

The study of the anatomical and histological features of the female ' genital system of rabbits and white rats are scarce in the available

I iterature .So the present investigation was carried out in order to give the tine details of the anatomy and histology of the female genital tract of both balady rabbits and the white rats which fill a gap in the field of Comparative Anatomy. It also helps other clinical branches and experimental studies applied on breeding of rabbits and white rats like the artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and surgical operations concerning the female genital tract.