Age-related Structural Peculiarities of os penis in the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
II. Light - microscopy Studies

D. DIMITROV, T. DIMOVA and R. DIMITROV

Thracian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, BG-6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Abstract

DIMITROV, D., T. DIMOVA and R. DIMITROV, 2000. Age-related structural peculiarities of os penis in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). II. Light - microscopy studies. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 6: 717-720.

Material used was from 53 wild male red foxes and 5 embryos from the region of the Sirnena Sredna Gora mountains divided into 4 age groups – I – younger than 1 year of age, II – from 1 to 2 years, III – from 2 – 3 years, and IV – older than 3.
Histological preparations were prepared from the penal bones divided in the above age groups. Using light microscopy we determined that os penis in the red fox is presumed as early as day 9 and on day 21 the differentiating presumption includes all anatomic parts. Morphogenesis results from the simultaneous processes of differentiation of the hondrogenic mezenchim, maturing of chondroblasts, agening and dying of chondrocites. The later histogenesis develops in phases, in regions and in relation to age. Transfer from the cartilage phase to the bone phase ends at 7 months of age. Changing the bone frame of low differentiation to a lamelar bone tissue of high differentiation continues until 3 years of age. Surface processes of lamelar osteo-geneses in os penis of the red fox can be determined at the age of 3 years determining the increase in width of os penis.

Key words: red fox, os penis, histology, age dependency