Histological study of cartilaginous cells in the body of penis in one-humped camel (camelus dromedarius)

BACKGROUND:Several investigations showed cartilaginouscells in fibrous tissue of the free part of the penis in one humpedcamel. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was accurate assessmentof existence of cartilaginous cells in penis shaft of onehumpedcamel. METHODS: Six camel penises from maturedcamels more than 3 years-old were collected from an abattoir.Different specimens were prepared from each penis and kept in10% formalin container for fixation. After passing differentstages of histotechnique methods, several slides were preparedfrom each specimen, stained with Haematoxylin Eosin andstudied. RESULTS: Results showed that the majority of cartilaginouscells were inside the collagen fibers of tunica albuginea andaround corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum of penis andtheir distributions were dissimilar in different parts of the penisshaft. This survey further showed that in penis shaft length, themajority of cartilaginous cells were inside tunica albuginea,which is surrounded by corpus spongiosum and particularly, theventral surface of urethra. CONCLUSIONS: The number ofcartilaginous cells decreased gradually from distal extremitytowards the proximal extremity of the body of the penis andincreased gradually from external layer of tunica albugineatowards the internal layer of tunica albuginea and centre ofcorpus cavernosum penis. Existence of cartilaginous cells insidethe leaf tissue of the penis was seen with aging and puberty.