Key Points
- Intact female guinea pigs are “sows” and intact males are “boars”.
- Mature boars have distinct scrotal pouches and testes that are large.
- Male guinea pigs have actually a few accessory intercourse glands, including big, paired seminal vesicles or vesicular glands, that can be recognised incorrectly as uterine horns.
- Puberty does occur at more or less 2 months in females and between 2-3 months in men.
- The symphysis that is pubic within the last times of maternity.
- Separation for the symphysis that is pubic be insufficient in sows bred after 7-8 months of age and dystocia can lead to these people. Other potential reasons for dystocia include obesity and fetal size that is large.
- Sows frequently give delivery to 2-4 large, precocial pups. Other rodent types generally speaking have big litters.
- Pregnancy toxemia is definitely a essential reason behind perinatal mortality in guinea pigs. This disorder is oftentimes seen in primiparous, overweight sows in belated gestation. The prognosis is normally guarded. Minmise the danger of pregnancy toxemia by motivating workout, preventing obesity, and minimizing stress when you look at the expecting sow.
- Unilateral or bilateral ovarian cysts are quite typical, especially in older sows.
- Ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy is preferred to stop the growth of ovarian cysts as well as other problems that are reproductive non-breeding friend sows.
Introduction
Guinea pigs are helpful in reproductive studies simply because they share numerous reproductive faculties with humans (Fig 1). 26 Like people, guinea pigs have a very hemochorial placenta, for which maternal blood will come in direct experience of the fetal chorion, along with comparable trophoblast intrusion habits and uterine vasculature that is comparable. 20 , 23 adult friend finde , 26 The guinea pig’s gestation duration could be split into trimesters, analogous towards the condition that is human. 26 needless to say, some popular features of guinea pig reproductive anatomy and physiology are distributed to other users of purchase Rodentia, as well as other features are unique for this unique species. This short article product reviews physiology and physiology regarding the guinea pig reproductive tract and summarizes some clinically significant medical dilemmas.
Figure 1.Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are of help in lots of reproductive studies.
Intact male guinea pigs, or “boars”, enter puberty between 70-90 times, nonetheless men commence to show intimate behavior, such as for example mounting, at 1 month of age. 9 , 17 , 23 At 2 months, boars start to ejaculate while mounting. 23 Expression of sexual behavior and development that is physical notably suppressed in the event that boar is housed having its mom and/or siblings. 11
Boars are usually bigger than females, with both sexes having a pair that is single of mammae. 5 Mature boars have big, paired testes, that are found on either region of the perineum in distinct, superficial scrotal sacs (Fig 2). 5 , 9 , 23 The testicles are frequently completely descended in to the scrotum by 81 times. 2 In the event that testes never have descended by 4 months of age, the guinea pig is highly recommended cryptorchid. 9 The canals that are inguinal available for life. 9 , 19 to avoid herniation post-castration, numerous clinicians start using a shut method or even a modified open method, where in actuality the tunica is roofed into the suture which is used to connect from the spermatic cable and vessels. 32
Figure image that is 2.Gross of testicle (arrow) in an adult boar (Cavia porcellus). The epididymis lies over the dorsolateral area for the testis. The end for the epididymis offers increase into the ductus deferens. Credit: Drury Reavill, DVM, DABVP (Avian Training), DACVP. Click image to expand.
Clinical Suggestion: Although big, paired testes are obvious in mature boars, sex identification could be challenging in young pups. In the event that testicles aren’t apparent, sexing are facilitated by putting mild force at the beds base associated with prepuce to partially extrude your penis. 23
The penis that is s-shaped of the human anatomy and glans. Guinea pigs have an os penis, which will be discovered inside the dorsal area associated with the whole amount of the glans. 9 , 19 Like other hystricomorph rodents, your penis even offers moment, saw-toothed spurs that are white dorsolaterally in 2 synchronous lines through the urethral orifice to your glans. Additionally there is an intromittent sac on the ventral area associated with the glans penis. 9 During erection, the sac everts and two styles that are horny. 5 , 9 , 23 the event among these 3-5 mm projections that are long unknown. 9
Male reproductive glands include the seminal vesicles (vesicular glands), coagulating glands, bulbourethral glands, plus the prostate (Fig 3). 5 , 27 A rudimentary preputial gland may be contained in the boar. 9
