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Testis is considered the main organ of the male reproductive system. Dogs are used as a suitable experimental model of testicular diseases in humans. From the veterinary aspect, several disorders have been reported to affect the testis in dogs. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the morphometrical features of the dog testis using design-based stereology. The testes of six male dogs were used. Isotropic, uniform random sections were obtained and processed for light microscopy. Testicular total volume and the fractional volume of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue and germinal epithelium were measured using the Cavalieri's estimator and the point counting system. Germinal epithelial surface area was estimated using test lines, and total length of seminiferous tubules was analysed using the counting frames. The total volume of testis was calculated 13.64 ± 1.94 cm 3 . The relative volume fractions of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue and germinal layer expressed as a percentage of total testicular volume were found to be 75.87 ± 6.11%, 23.68 ± 5.15% and 64.15 ± 4.82%, respectively. The surface area of the germinal layer was 915.25 ± 150.48 cm 2 . The thickness of germinal layer was estimated to be 96.18 ± 10.72 μm. The total length of seminiferous tubules measured 290.8 ± 35.86 m. No statistical difference in investigated parameters was found between the left and right testes (p > 0.05). Our data might contribute to the male reproductive knowledge, help develop experimental studies in this field and possibly lead to advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of testicular diseases in the dog., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The plain viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) has been used as an animal model because it has unusual anatomical–physiological characteristics in eutherian mammals. The aim of this work was to contribute to a better understanding of the digestion of L. maximus based on the description of the macroscopic structure of the stomach, and the histologic characterization and glycosylation pattern of the cardiac and pyloric regions. The stomach of L. maximus is monocavitary with an entirely glandular mucosa. This organ presented an acute angular incisura, so the cardiac and the pyloric regions got close together forming a "U" shaped stomach. The techniques applied put into evidence marked variations—according to the anatomical region analysed—in the histochemical profile of the mucous cells of the secreting epithelium, the gastric pits and glands. Moreover, the glycosylation pattern of mucous cells varied along the longitudinal axis of the cardiac and pyloric glands: differences between cells near the gastric pits (superficial zone of the glands) and those near the muscularis mucosae (deep zone of the glands) were observed. The information produced in the present work could be used as a relevant biological tool, contributing to the morphological bases for future anatomical and histophysiological analyses of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]