Placental development in the early stages of red-rumped agouti pregnancy ( Linnaeus, 1758).

Background: Hystricomorpha rodents display a similar placentation model to humans. The present study was carried out considering the scarcity of information concerning the placental development in agouti.

Objective: Describe the microscopy of the placenta, subplacenta and yolk sac of agoutis in early pregnancy and report on the inversion of the yolk sac.

Morphology of the genital organs of the female red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina, Linnaeus, 1758) during estrous cycle phases and in advanced pregnancy.

The study investigated the gross and microscopic anatomy of the genital organs of 20 agoutis at different stages of the estrous cycle and four in the final trimester of pregnancy. Specimens were euthanized and their reproductive organs were fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde or 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution and submitted to routine histological techniques for light and scanning electron microscopy.

Post-implantation development of red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758).

Fourteen pregnant agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758) females at gestational ages of 30-100days and two at gestational ages of 55-100days, were studied, including 24 embryos/fetuses and two neonates (single offspring from two females). Females were euthanized and embryos/fetuses were examined, measured, and photographed. Embryos at 30days post-copulation were "C-shaped," with paddle-shaped limb buds and 10.

The morphology of the pineal gland of the yellow-toothed cavy (Galea Spixii Wagler, 1831) and red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina linnaeus, 1758).

The pineal gland is an endocrine gland found in all mammals. This article describes the morphology of this important gland in two species of Caviideae, namely the yellow-toothed cavy and the red-rumped agouti. Ten adult animals of the two species used in current analysis were retrieved from the Center for the Multiplication of Wild Animals (CEMAS/UFERSA) and euthanized.

Microscopy of the umbilical cord of rock cavies--Kerodon rupestris Wied, 1820 (Rodenta, Caviidae).

The rock cavies (Kerodon rupestris) are rodents belonging to family Caviidae, with habitat restricted to northeastern Brazil. Current studies have shown that blood cord has stem and hematopoietic cells both with a high regenerative potential, microscopic studies about the description in rodents and other mammals are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the structural components of the umbilical cord of rock cavies.