Computed Tomographic Imaging of Vesicular Glands in Rabbits

The study was carried out with the purpose to demonstrate the anatomo-topographic features of rabbit vesicular glands by computed axial tomography imaging (CT). Eight sexually matured, clinically healthy male white New Zealand rabbits, 12 months of age and weighing 2.8-3.2 kg were used. CT scans of the pelvis were performed in the transverse planes from the seventh Lumbar (L7) vertebra to the first sacral vertebra (S1), with a section thickness of 2 mm. The cranial border of the vesicular glands was visualized in the transverse plane between L7 and S1 while the caudal part of the glands was observed in scans of the pelvic inlet in the transverse plane through the caudal part of S1. In the transverse scans of the pelvic inlet halfway S1, the vesicular glands appeared as transversely ovoid, homogeneous and relatively hypodense structures as compared to the adjacent soft tissues. The glandular areas were relatively hypodense compared to the urethral and rectal walls. The density of the rabbit vesicular glands was that of the soft tissues ranging from 31 +/- 0.33 HU in precontrast imaging and 78 +/- 0.33 HU in postcontrast imaging.