Cowper ducts

In a rabbit study, hydroquinone at 150 mg kg day produced minimal developmental alterations in the presence of maternal toxicity. The no-observed-effect level for developmental toxicity was 75mgkg day In rat studies, maternal toxic effects from exposure to hydroquinone included changes in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and menstrual cycle. Postimplantation mortality was also observed in rat studies. Observed paternal toxic effects from exposure to hydroquinone included changes in the testes, epididymis, sperm duct, prostate, seminal vesicle, Cowper s gland, accessory glands, and male fertility index. Further, exposure to hydroquinone produced skeletal malformations in chickens and ocular and skeletal malformations in rabbits. Hydroquinone can induce renal tubule adenomas, bladder carcinomas, hepatocellular neoplasms, and mononuclear cell leukemia in experimental animals. 

The male reproductive anatomy includes the penis, two testes, and a system of exocrine glands whose secretions form the seminal fluid. The exocrine glands consist of the two bulbourethral glands (Cowper s glands), two seminal vesicles, and the prostate. The bilateral ducts that connect this system and transport sperm and seminal fluid are the epididymis, the vas deferens, and the ejaculatory duct, which enters the urethra. 

Syringocele or cystic dilatation of Cowper s gland ducts is a lesion of uncertain origin, though probably congenital since it is commonly found in young patients with negative clinical history. 

Maizels M, Stephens FD, King LR, Firlit CF (1983) Cowper s syringocele a classification of dilatations of Cowper s gland duct based upon clinical characteristics of eight boys. J Urol 129 111-114... 

Fig. 2.14. VCU in a 2-year-old boy with a normal urethra. The slight narrowing (large arrow) at the junction between the posterior and the anterior urethra corresponds to the urogenital diaphragm. The duct of one Cowper gland is visualized by reflux (double arrow)...

Cobb s collar (Cobb et al. 1968) is a congenital narrowing of the bulbar urethra with no connection to the verumontanum (Dewan et al. 1994). It was shown that Cobb s collar is frequently associated with tubular or cystic dilatation of Cowper s glands ducts (also called syringocele) (Dewan 1996), both structures arising embryologically from the urogenital membrane area. 

McLellan DL, Gaston MV, Diamond DA et al (2004) Anterior urethral valves and diverticula in children a result of ruptured Cowper s duct cyst BJU Int 94 375-378 Miller GW (1993) The work of human hands. Hardy Hendren and surgical wonder at Children s Hospital. Random House, New York... 

In iron-making industries, firebricks are found in the blast furnace stack, bosh, hearth, and ladles. Cowper stoves are also made of firebricks. The blast duct connecting Cowper stoves and the blast furnace is also constructed of firebricks. 

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