• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial detection time and development of the fetal genital structures using ultrasound in twelve pregnant small bitches. The initial detection time of the fetal genital structures was as follows: genital tubercle at days 32.6; os penis at days 45.2; labia at days 45.7; scrotum at days 47.5. Ultrasonograms of fetal genital structure according to gestational stage were as follows: Undifferentiated stage (before day 35), the genital tubercle was observed to have a small elevation and just a hyper-echogenic structure in the midline between the umbilical cord and the tail in male and female fetus. Migration stage (between day 35~45), the genital tubercle was observed as a hyper-echogenic, bilobular, oval shaped and the genital tubercle began to migrate from the initial position toward the umbilical cord in males, and toward the tail in females. Differentiated stage (after day 46), the penis and os penis were observed to stand out in the abdominal wall and the scrotum was observed toward the perineal region in male fetuses. The labia was detected at the base of the tail in female fetuses. These results indicate that ultrasound of fetal genital structures could be useful for fetal gender determination and a completely prepartum evaluation of the canine fetus.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2022

Solitary distal vaginal atresia is generally caused by a transverse septum or an imperforate hymen. We found a novel type of distal vaginal atresia in a late-term fetus (gestational age approximately 28 weeks) in our histology collection. This fetus had a vaginal vestibule that was closed and covered by a thick subcutaneous tissue beneath the perineal skin in the immediately inferior or superficial side of the imperforate hymen. The uterus, uterine tube, anus, and anal canal had normal development. The urethral rhabdosphincters were well-developed and had a normal topographical relationship with the vagina, but the urethrovaginal sphincter was absent. Thus, vaginal descent seemed to occur normally and form the vestibule. However, the external orifice of the urethra consisted of a highly folded duct with hypertrophied squamous epithelium. Notably, the corpus cavernosum and crus of the clitoris had poor development and were embedded in the subcutaneous tissue, distant from the vestibule. Normally, the cloacal membrane shifts from the bottom of the urogenital sinus to the inferior aspect of the thick and elongated genital tubercle after establishment of the urorectal septum. Therefore, we speculate there was a failure in the transposition of the cloacal membrane caused by decreased elongation of the genital tubercle. The histology of this anomaly strongly suggested that the hymen does not represent a part of the cloacal membrane, but is instead a product that appears during the late recanalization of the distal vagina after vaginal descent. The transverse septum was also likely to form during this recanalization.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.86-98
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• 2021

The genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 is the largest genus among the cellar spider family Pholcidae C.L. Koch, 1850, including 339 species. To date, 33 species in the genus are known to be distributed in Korea, being placed into three species-groups(crypticolens-group, phalangioides-group, and phungiformes-group). About 91% of these species are endemic to Korea. In this study, four new species of the genus Pholcus were discovered in Korea, viz, Pholcus chuncheonensis Lee, Choi and Kim sp. nov., Pholcus pajuensis Lee, Choi and Kim sp. nov., Pholcus pocheonensis Lee, Choi and Kim sp. nov., and Pholcus unaksanensis Lee, Choi and Kim sp. nov. These new species are classified as members of the phungiformes-group, having morphological characteristics such as male chelicerae with a frontal apophysis, palpal tibia with a prolateroventral tubercle, and genital bulb without appendix or having pseudo-appendix, but can be distinguished from congeners by characteristics of the male palp and female genitalia. Detailed descriptions and a key to new species are provided with accompanying photographs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2009

This report deals with the morphology of the horsehair worm isolated in canine vomitus. We received a worm in living status. The worm was investigated by using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for species determination. Grossly, the worm was blackish brown in color and 215 mm in length and 1.2 mm in maximum width. Microscopically, the worm was composed of epicuticle, cuticle, epidermis, muscle, mesenchyme, pseudocoel, nerve cord and gut. But the genital organ was not developed. The SEM study revealed that the cuticle contains five types of elevated structures called areoles. The cuticular surface of the parasite is covered by an abundant type of areoles: simple areole, tubercle areole, bulging areole, crowned areole, circumcluster areole. The observed characteristics of the specimen in this study are same to those of genus Chordodes. And we concluded that it is a male of Chordodes koreensis belong to Gordiida. Only nine species of freshwater Nematomorpha are known from Korea, two of which belong to the genus Chordodes. But the case of parasitic horsehair worm in dogs do not recorded, and this is a first gordiosis of dog in Korea.