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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Dissection of Pelvic Autonomic Ganglia and Associated Nerves in Male and Female Rats
Published on: March 7, 2020
Histogenesis of the Os Penis and Os Clitoridis in Rats: (chondrogenesis/bone formation/testosterone/genital tubercle)
Ryutaro Murakami1, Takeo Mizuno1
1Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113, Japan.
Abstract:
The development of the os penis in normal male rats and the os clitoridis in the females treated with testosterone were studied histologically and histochemically. Alcian blue-positive materials, alkaline phosphatase activities and calcium deposit were detected. The os penis of the rats was composed of a proximal segment and a distal one. The proximal segment of the os penis was formed by the fusion of a membrane bone in its distal half and an ossifying hyaline cartilage in its proximal half. The distal segment of the os penis developed as a fibrocartilage bone. Two steps were demonstrated in the development of the os penis: the formation of the rudiments, and the differentiation of the proximal and distal segments. The treatment of newborn females with testosterone induced an os clitoridis homologous to the proximal segment of the os penis. The development of the os clitoridis was compared with that of the os penis.
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