MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PITUITARY GLAND IN GRAY MONGOOSE (HERPESTES EDWARDSII) IN IRAQ

To determine unique species variations, overall morphological features are compared against those associated with other small carnivores or animal species. For an assessment of the proportions as well as distribution of different pituitary cells. The present study used ten healthy adult of gray mongoose were obtained from gray mongooses that collected in the (Middle Euphrates region). The animals received a dissection after being collected, and the pituitary glands were gently removed to prevent harm to the tissues, weighing approximately (550-600) g. The experiment animals administering by intramuscular injections combination of [Xylazine and ketamine 0.9 mg/kg and 26 mg/kg, respectively]. The morphological investigations finding the gray mongoose had pituitary gland appeared as pyramidal shape, surrounded by delicate membrane encircle by all pituitary gland except the small area of stalk that connection with hypoithalamus, the pituitary gland located in middle portion of sphenoid bone in clear depression called sella tursica. Histological investigations show the gray mongoose’s pituitary gland looked straps appeared as (M) in shape, divided in to three region pars disalis, pars intermedia and pars nervosa. The pars distalis had two types of cells classified according to affinity of chromophil (acidophil and basophil) and chromophobes. The acidophil were bigger than chromophobes and basophils. It was situated in the peripherally of the pars distalis, about 35% of the pars distalis, had two types of cells variance in shape and size. The basophil was larger and more numerous than acidophils and chromophobes, this type was spread as clusters. It accounts for 60 % of the cells of pars distalis while, the chromophobes were less in numbers about 5%. The neurohypophysis characteristic contains thin fibers with a great number of glial cells with a large number of (Herring body), the pars nervosa in gray mongoose was highly vascularized. The gray mongoose’s pituitary gland varied in shape, suggesting functional specialization that varies in wild animals, particularly in carnivorous ones. These findings provide fundamental information about wildlife.