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Keywords

Urogenital anatomy, Wolffian duct, epithelial morphology, seminal vesicle, Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Frog

Abstract

I investigated the microanatomy of the distal urogenital system in male Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Frogs (Gastrophryne carolinensis) from a small sample (n = 5) collected in central Arkansas in April, May, and July (2021) and May 2022. Specifically, my primary goals were to elucidate the histology of the following: (1) the paired Wolffian (urogenital) ducts caudally from the kidneys to their merging with the urodeum of the cloaca, (2) the structure of seminal vesicles, and (3) the epithelial morphologies among the distal urogenital tract, the posterior alimentary canal, and the cloaca. My histological analysis confirmed the presence of alveolar-type glands contributing to the seminal vesicles, which are small sac-like enlargements (sperm storage structures) of the Wolffian ducts. A secretory epithelium was present in these ducts posterior to the seminal vesicles. This histological information will further enrich our understanding of this urogenital anatomy for a North American microhylid frog species and allow for anatomical comparisons to be made with other anurans.

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