On the development of the rabbit vagina

Summary The author studied 71 female rabbit fetuses and 6 female young varying in age from 19 days p.c. to 9 days p. p. All the specimens were routinely stained in haematoxylin-eosin-orange-G after fixing in Bouin's fluid. In addition, a study was made of the occurence of beta-glucuronidase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase in the müllerian, the wolffian, and the v.c.r. epithelium in the regions under discussion. The gradual transition between wolffian and what is here called intermediate epithelium, and the distribution of mitoses and degeneration granules, as well as the distribution of the different enzymes, suggests that the caudal part of the vagina of rabbit is derived from wolffian epithelium. The cranial part of the vagina is lined by epithelium derived from the müllerian ducts.