Histological Observation of the Penile Glans of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis
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1.College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315000; 2.Jiangshan High School, Ningbo 315191, China

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Q955

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    Abstract:

    [Objectives] Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an important aquatic economic animal, belonging to the representative taxonomic family of Trionychidae. The glans of the penis of P. sinensis is the black part of the end of the penis, which is the key to the study of mating and sperm excretion of the turtle. At present, its detailed structure has not been reported. [Methods] In this study, six-year-old sexually mature male P. sinensis were used. The penile glans of P. sinensis were studied in erectile and natural state by anatomical and histological methods (stereomicroscope, light microscope and scanning electron microscope). [Results] The results showed that there were two sulcus spermaticus on the dorsal side of the penis (Fig. 1d), which extended along the penis to the synaptic tissue of the penis head. The dorsal surface of the penis head is a fold like blood sinus, which expands after the congestion of the penis. When the blood sinus fully extended, ten tentacles were appeared on the surface of penis glans, and formed a symmetric “butterfly” structure, which can open and close during ejaculation. In addition, the head of the penis is rich in villi and mucus. [Conclusion] The penile glans of P. sinensis formed a special structure in the erectile state, which may be directly related to the stability of mating and spermatogenesis.

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ZHANG Ye-Yi, REN Teng-Ji, QIAN Guo-Ying, YIN Shang-Jun, WANG Wei. 2023. Histological Observation of the Penile Glans of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. Chinese Journal of Zoology, 58(3): 442-449.

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History
  • Received:October 17,2022
  • Revised:
  • Adopted:
  • Online: June 16,2023
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