Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Year: 2011
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Page No. 50 - 54

Computed Tomographic Imaging of Rabbit Bulbourethral Glands

Authors : R. Dimitrov

Abstract: Rabbit bulbourethral glands are a compact structure, surrounded by the skeletal M. bulboglandularis and a fibrous capsule. The glands have a cubic shape and are located on the dorsal urethral wall in craniocaudal direction. It is connected with prostate and paraprostate by a connective tissue. Ten sexually mature healthy male white New Zealand rabbits, 12 months old weighed 2.8-3.2 kg were investigated. The animals were anesthetized with 15 mg kg-1 Zoletil® 50. Scans were done at 2 mm intervals and the image reconstruction was three-dimensional. The cuts were cranially limited between the body of the ischium behind the acetabulum (laterally) and the end of the ischial part of pubic symphysis (ventrally) and the first coccygeal vertebrae (cg1) (dorsally) and caudally-from the body of ischium, cranially to tuber ischiadicum (laterally), the ischial arch (ventrally) and the edge of the second coccygeal vertebrae (cg2). Rabbit bulbourethral glands were observed as a transversely oval homogeneous, relatively hyperdense structure against the surrounding soft tissues. They are visualized in the transverse cut of the pelvic outlet in the plane through the cranial part of cg2 (dorsally), the body of ischium, cranially to tuber ischiadicum (laterally) and dorsally to the caudal part of symphysis pubis-sciatic arch. The glandular margins are adequately distinguished from the adjacent soft tissue structures. The density of the rabbit bulbourethral glands was similar to this of the soft tissues (34±0.53 HU in native scan and up to 60±91 HU in contrast-enhanced scan). The width of the glands (lateral dimension) was 6.1±0.29 mm, its height (dorsoventral dimension) was 5.4±0.22 mm and the length (craniocaudal dimension) was 7.8±0.38 mm. The data obtained by the computed tomographic imaging of the rabbit bulbourethral glands could be used as an anatomical reference in the diagnosis and interpretation of imaging findings of various pathological states of the gland in this species, as well as in utilization of the rabbit as an animal model for studying diseases of this organ in humans, particularly diverticula, stenosis, lithiasis and valves.

How to cite this article:

R. Dimitrov , 2011. Computed Tomographic Imaging of Rabbit Bulbourethral Glands. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 50-54.

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