Histological Studies of Some Organs of Squirrels (<i>Xerus erythropus</i>) in Tropical Ecological Zone

Abstract

The functional morphology of some organs of squirrels was investigated through histological observations. A total number of thirty two (32) ground squirrels (Xerus erythropus); 15 males with mean weight 220.0 ± 2.0 g and length 40.0 ± 0.2 cm, and 15 females with mean weight 229.8 ± 2.0 g and length 39.0 ± 2.0 cm were used. The ground squirrels were trapped using rodent traps, anesthetized identified to species level and dissected to expose the viscera. The organs (liver brain, heart, gonads (testes and ovaries) were dissected out, clean off ceolomic fluid, fixed in normal buffered saline prior to the histological studies of the tissues. The organs of squirrel from different zones were examined at the light microscopy. The results compared clearly showed normal tissues without degenerations, the tissue histology showed almost the same pattern and arrangement of the cells in the tissues. The liver develops embryologically outgrowth of the gut. The endocardium, with all its endothelial lining and supporting tissues, accommodates movement of the myocardium. The cerebellar cortex forms a series of deeply convoluted folds or folia. The spermatozoon is absorbed into the lumen of the tubule, where they are drawn into the epididymal walls of the testis while the primary oocyte is surrounded by a single layer of flattened follicular cells.

Keywords: Histology, Liver, Heart, Brain, Testes, Ovary, Squirrel