Histological Characteristic of Female Reproductive Organ of the Sunda Porcupine (Hystrix javanica)

This study presents the first detailed histological characterisation of the female reproductive tract in the Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica), an endemic and protected hystricognath rodent in Indonesia. Samples from three adult females were processed using routine histological staining, including haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. The ovarian surface was lined by a single layer of cuboidal surface epithelium over a dense tunica albuginea, with follicles and luteal structures distributed throughout the cortex. Follicles were categorised into primordial, primary, small pre-antral, large pre-antral, small antral and large antral stages, with mean diameters ranging from 44.07 μm (primordial) to 1753.02 μm (large antral). The uterine tube displayed a mucosa lined mainly by ciliated columnar epithelial cells. The uterus was bicornuate, and the cervix formed a distinct valve-like projection into the vaginal lumen. Columnar epithelium lined the uterine horn, body and cervix, whereas the vagina was lined by stratified squamous epithelium. These findings establish essential baseline histological data for reproductive assessment and provide a reference framework to support conservation and captive-breeding programs for Sunda porcupine.