Eur J Anat, 13 (3): 117-120 (2009)

Morphometric analysis of the kidneys of the adult domesticated African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Olukole S.G.

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The gross anatomy and histomorphometry of the kidney were studied in the adult domesticated African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) also known as the grasscutter. The average weight and age of the cane rats used in the study were 1.93 ±0.42 kg and 18.80 ±1.39 months respectively. The mean weights of the left and right kidneys were 3.46 ±0.19g and 3.57 ±0.22g respectively, being significantly different (p<0.05). The relative kidney weight (left and right) was 0.36%. The mean length of the right kidney was also more than that of the left, being 3.44 ± 0.10 cm and 3.19 ±0.10 cm respectively, with a significant difference (p<0.05). The mean widths of the left and right kidneys were 2.12 ±0.09 cm and 2.05 ±0.67 cm respectively. The mean thicknesses of the left and right kidneys were 1.13 ±0.05 cm and 1.14 ± 0.05 cm respectively. The mean capsular, cortical and medullary thicknesses were 12.50 ± 0.02 ?m, 0.26 ±0.03 cm and 0.85 ±0.03 cm respectively. The relative medullary thickness, an index of the length of the loop of Henle, was 4.7. The findings of this work provide baseline data that could be relevant in understanding the regional anatomy of the urinary system and the anatomical adaptation for water conservation in the animal.

Keywords: animal tissue, article, domestic animal, kidney concentrating capacity, kidney mass, kidney medulla, kidney size, morphometrics, nonhuman, rat, Thryonomys swinderianus, water retention