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Bulbourethral glands (Cowper´s glands) are one of the accessory genital glands, which play an important role in the cleaning and neutralizing of the acidic environment of the urethra prior to ejaculation. The aim of the present work is to study the morphological features of the bulbourethral glands of donkey by using histological and histochemical methods by using different staining methods such as hematoxylin and eosin, trichrome stain, Verhoff’s stain and Gomoris reticulin stain, PAS, alcian blue, Combined PAS/ alcian blue and Best’s carmine satin. The bulbourethral glands of donkeys were of the combined tubuloalveolar type and lined by principal and basal cells. The activity of the bulbourethral glands varied according to the seasons. It showed maximal activity during spring, which manifested by an increase in the epithelial height and decreasing the nuclear/cell ratio, and the principal cells showed a strong reaction for PAS and aclian blue. Minimal activity was observed in winter, in which the epithelium reaches its minimal height, and the nuclear/cell ratio was increased, and the principal cells showed weak reaction for PAS and aclian blue. In conclusion, this first report describes the histomorphological features of the bulbourethral glands of the donkey. In addition, it showed its different activity during the seasons of the year.

The reproductive ability of male animal is dependent to a great extent on the effective functions of the genital glands. The present study was carried on the pelvic urethra of 32 sexually mature male donkeys. 5µm sections were prepared from the samples and stained with different stains to show the different structures of the pelvic urethra. Scanning electron microscopic studies were performed on the lumen of the pelvic urethra to show the different shape of the urethral gland opening on the surface layer of the lamina epithelialis of the pelvic urethra. The pelvic urethra of donkey is formed of prostatic and membranous parts. The lamina epithelialis of the pelvic urethra varied at its different regions. The urethral glands were observed along the entire length of the pelvic urethra within the lamina propria-submucosa. They were mostly of the branched tubulo-alveolar glands lined by high cuboidal or pyramidal-shaped epithelial cells. The activity of the urethral glands in donkey varied throughout the year. It was more pronounced during spring, which was manifested by increased epithelial height, decreased nuclear/cell ratio, decreasing interstitial connective tissue/glandular tissue ratio and increased cellular secretory activity. This activity decreased gradually during the summer and autumn to reach its minimal level during winter.