Morphofunctional characteristics thyroid gland of white-breasted male hedgehog in the period of puberty

The issue of the morphofunctional characteristics of the thyroid gland of male white-breasted hedgehogs during puberty on the territory of Belarus was studied. Material for the study was taken from 15 males, who were divided into three stages of studying the sexual maturation of hedgehogs: stage I - prepubertal period, stage II - the beginning of puberty, and stage III - activation of the gonads and the end of puberty. The results obtained characterize the morphological state of the thyroid gland of male white-breasted hedgehogs during puberty, and thus makes it possible to use morphometric indicators of structures as indicators of the environment and physiological states (for assessing puberty).