Arterial Supply of the Penis in Agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolpha, Wagler, 1831)

Summary The arterial vascularization of agoutis penis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) were analysed using ten male adults from Nu´ - cleo de Estudos e Preservacao de Animais Silvestres da Uni- versidade Federal do Piaui´ (FUFPI/IBAMA n 02/99). Among the total number of specimens, six animals had natural death and were members of the research collection of the Laboratory of Anatomy, and four were killed after anaesthe- sia. Stained bi-centrifugated-Cis-I-4 latex was injected in arterial vessels responsible for penis vascularization through- out the abdominal portion of aorta. The samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and arteries were dissected. The penile artery is originated as a branch of internal pudendal artery. At the level of ischiatic arch, the penile artery project two branches, the penile dorsal and the deep arteries; those arteries irrigates the penile dorsal surface and the corpus cavernosum penis. The penile dorsal arteries have an inde- pendent course up to the glans penis. Based on the conditions of this work a remarkable similarity regarding the distribution of vessels destined to the agouti penis when compared to other domestic, wild and lagomorph rodents as rabbits.