Comparative Histo-morphometric Study of Mammary Gland in Ewes and She Goat in their Lactating and Non-lactating Stage

Author: Shilpa S. Modekar

Download PDF

Abstract

The present work deals with the quantitative histological morpho-metric description of the mammary glands of ewes and she goat during their lactating and non lactating stage. During comparative analysis, significant differences was recorded during statistical analysis between the values of all parameters as, in the diameter of lobules, number of alveoli per lobule, diameter of alveoli, height and width of epithelial cells lining the alveoli and diameter of alveolar lumen in dry and lactating stage of mammary glands in both sheep as well as goat. The amount of cytoplasm decreased from lactating to non-lactating stage measured related to the mammary glands the small ruminants. during their lactating and non lactating stage There was presence of active alveoli as well as resting alveoli in lactating stage, whereas in dry stage, it was noticed that in the alveolar lumen most of the alveoli showed degenerative changes and de-squamated cells of both the small ruminants. Similarly, the nuclei of the epithelium, lining the alveoli were large and vesicular at the lactation stage whereas in non-lactating stage, nuclei were small in size, in both the small ruminants.

Keywords

Mammary gland, Ewes, She goat, Histomorpho-metry

Conclusion

The udder in ewe and she goat composed of similar basic histological structure. The histo-architecture of mammary gland of small ruminants showed connective tissue stroma which divided the parenchyma into visible lobes and lobules. Lobules contained several alveoli with their intra-lobular duct system. Each alveolus was separated by inter-alveolar connective tissue. However, no distinct lobulations were seen in the non-lactating mammary gland. Lobes were separated inter-lobar connective tissue. Alveoli were lined by single layer of epithelium. Myo-epithelial cells were present, in between the epithelium and basement membrane. The concentration of the elastic and reticular fibers increased in lactating mammary glands which were less in goat as compared to sheep. In non-lactating stage in both goat as well as sheep the fibro-architectures of the capsule resembled to that of lactating goats as well as sheep. The elastic fibers were thicker in non-lactating goats. A significant change was recorded in the diameter of lobules, number of alveoli per lobule, diameter of alveoli, height and width of epithelial cells lining the alveoli and diameter of alveolar lumen in dry and lactating stage of mammary gland in both sheep as well as goat. Active alveoli and resting alveoli were noticed in lactating stage, whereas in dry stage most of the alveoli showed degenerative changes and desquamated cells in the alveolar lumen. The amount of cytoplasm decreased from lactating to non-lactating stage. The nuclei of the epithelium, lining the alveoli were large and vesicular at the lactation stage in both the small ruminants whereas in non-lactating stage, nuclei were small in size. Hence this comparative histo-morphometric study, revealed statistically significant difference in the length of lobule, breadth of lobule, number of alveoli per lobule, alveoli size, alveolar luminal diameter, nucleus diameter, thickness of interalveolar septa and thickness of interlobular septa between lactating and non-lactating animals.

References

-

How to cite this article

Comparative Histo-morphometric Study of Mammary Gland in Ewes and She Goat in their Lactating and Non-lactating Stage. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 52-56.