Characterization of the Uterus and Mammary Glands of the Female African Giant Rats (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) in Nigeria

Morphology of the uterus and mammary glands were studied in sexually matured female African giant rat. The uterus was identified as being duplex, having two separate uterine horns and two cervices. The two cervices were partially fused and separated by a mid-saggital septum. Their thick musculatures projected caudally into the vagina as the portio vaginalis uteri. The results also showed that eight mammary glands, distributed along the lateral aspects of thoracic and inguinal regions, were present. The thoracic and the inguinal regions had four mammary glands each and were arranged in two pairs of cranial and caudal rows. These findings fill some gaps created by the dearth of information on the reproductive biology of the female African giant rat.