VARIACIONES MORFOLOGICAS ESTACIONALES DE LAS GLANDULAS BULBOURETRALES DE LA CHINCHILLA (Chinchilla laniger, GREY),

summary: the morphology of bulbourethral glands was described in chinchilla laniger (grey) under conditions of captivity. the experiments were performed in adults subjects along a period of one year (two to three years old) in order to determine possible seasonal variations. the following parameters were investigated in this south american native roedor: corporal and glandular weight, organo-somatic index (ios), wall thickness, mucous membrane diameter and epithelial tissue high. highest values were found between may and july and lowest values between november and february, except corporal weight that displayed no variations along the year (p 0.05). the histochemical analysis of glandular secretion revealed the presence of neutral glycoproteins and the absence of glycogen (as determined by pas and diastase ? pas, respectively). neutral glycoproteins showed an intense pas reaction (+++) between october-april and light-moderate (+ / ++) between may-september. besides, sulphated and acids glycoproteins showed no changes (+ / ++) through the period studied (as determined by alcian blue ph 1 and ph 2,5 respectively). in conclusion, the bulbourethral glands of the chinchilla laniger in captivity showed the highest secretory activity in the fall-winter seasons (a time characterized by short periods of light). the present results obtained from may to july are consistent with the fact that it corresponds with the highest reproductive activity for the specie.