Resumo

PRADERE, José D; GONZALEZ M, Freddy; RUIZ, E, Ana Z  e  CORREA, Alejandro. Anatomy of  the Uterus and Ovaries in the Capibara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): Arterial Irrigation. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2006, vol.47, n.1, pp.25-32. ISSN 0258-6576.

The purpose of this study was to describe, for the first time, the vascular arterial pattern of the uterus and ovaries of the Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) using single dissection, light microscopy and tissue-clearing techniques. Fifteen (15) postpuberal females of different ages (6 months to 2 years) were assessed. This study showed that the anatomical arrangement of the uterine horns, body and cervix is similar to dogs, cats and some rodents such as hamsters and rats. The arterial supply to the reproductive tract is made up of the ovarian, uterine and vaginal arteries all of which establish ipsilateral anastomosis among them. They also establish contralateral anastomosis between the uterine and vaginal arteries. Organs evaluated revealed that the uterine artery represents the main arterial vessel to the ovary, sending segmental branches to the horn and uterine body, branching off at the endings into two branches that penetrate deep into the walls of both structures. Subsequently, these branches anastomose with opposite homologue vessels. Further studies in this area are required to complement the description of the arteriovenous supply. This would allow a better understandingof the reproductive physiology and sexual behavior in this species.

Palavras-chave : Capybara; blood vessels; uterus; ovarios; animal  morphology.