The Micromorphology Of Hepatoid Circumanal Gland In Nigerian Dogs

Abstract

The hepatoid circumanal glands (HCGs) were found in dogs of all age group, in both sexes and appeared to be ductless. There were usually two glands separated by a hair follicle. A lobe of a gland was made of 20 lobules or more. Each lobule consisted of polygonal or polyhedral non-vacuolated cells with one or more nucleoli. Ultrastructurally, hepatoid circumanal gland appeared to be involved in both protein and lipid metabolism. The structure as found in our local dogs bare similarity to the HCGs in exotic breeds previously reported. There is need for more studies to be done on the functional morphology of HCGs and their role in Transmissible Venereal Tumour in African dogs.

Keywords: Dogs. Micromorphology. Hepatoid circumanal gland.

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (1) 2007 pp. 1-8