Topography of the urinary organs in the Baikal seal

Abstract

The urinary system of aquatic mammals plays an important role in maintaining the body’s homeostasis. Features in the structure and topography of the urinary organs are associated with the habitat and adaptation of the organism of aquatic animals to it. Interest in studying the features of the topography of organs and the structure of the organism as a whole, as well as the organs of urine formation and excretion in particular, is presented by the Baikal seal, given its freshwater lifestyle. The goal was to describe the species-specific features of the topography of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra in male and female Baikal seals. The object of the study was both live individuals and carcasses of the Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica) aged from 1.5 to 3 years. The animals were examined at the Baikal Seal Aquarium LLC and the Irkutsk City Animal Disease Control Station. The cadaver material was collected under the program of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, as well as research and development, experimental design and technological developments (R&D and R&D) from 2014, 2017, 2020. The study material was the organs of the urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. The studies were carried out using various anatomical methods: autopsy of cadaver material with examination and fixation of syntopy, skeletotopy, holotopy and anatomical dissection, ultrasound diagnostics and multispiral computed tomography.