Histological and Histometrical Features of the Mammary Gland in Immature and Lactating Local Breed Ewes (Ovis aries)

Abstract

Twelve samples of mammary glands (6 immature and 6 lactating ewes) were used for this study. Specimens of glands were immediately dissected and fixed in 10% formalin sol. The specimens were processed according to paraffin technique, sectioned at 5-6µm and stained by hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's Trichrom stains. In both immature and lactating ewes the mammary glands were covered by skin. In immature ewes the mammary quarter was composed of few mammary lobes that separated by very thick inter lobar adipose tissue. The lactating quarter was composed of huge mammary lobes and lobules without adipose tissue. In immature the lobe was consisted of few small lobules that composed of few of mammary alveoli while the lactating lobes had large sizes lobules and each had large alveoli which lined by tall cuboidal cells and supported by fibrous tissue and myo epithelial cells. In both immature and lactating ewes, the gland and teat cisternae were showed many of mucosal folds which lined by pseudo stratified columnar epithelium and supported by fibrous connective tissue. The teat cisterna of both immature and lactating was composed three layers; mucosal cisterna, fibro muscular layer and skin. The teat canal was lined by pseudo stratified squamous epithelium and the sub epithelial connective tissue showed well developed venous sinus and fibro muscular. Statistical analysis was revealed significant differences between the values of all parameters of immature and lactating ewes. Apparent surface areas of the lobe in immature and lactating were 122143.063±23.21 µm2 & 992541.188±33.81 µm2 respectively. Surface areas of lobule in immature and lactating were 1042.938±21.02 µm2 & 91565.977±25.60 µm2 respectively. Surface areas of alveoli in immature and lactating were 994.238±11.39 µm2 & 4584.270±19.26 µm2 respectively. Epithelial heights of alveoli in immature and lactating were 10.290±1.01 µm & 23.012±2.81 µm respectively. Thickness of inter lobar tissue in immature and lactating ewes 677.393±23.67 µm and 361.401±10.86 µm respectively. Thickness of inter lobular connective tissue in immature and lactating were 112.969±±11.48 µm and 90.281±9.81 µm respectively.

Histological and Histochemical Features of the Newly Lactating Udderinlocal Breed She Goat (Caprice Hirccus)

“…The results of mammary ductal system were agree with those reported by 2,4,7,29 , while 9 has revealed that the duct system of mammary gland of newly lactating ewe showed the epithelial cells of intra lobular duct which lined by simple cuboidal cells that showed secretory activities.…”

“…The type of alveolar epithelial cells at one day post parturition was similar that seen in newly lactating mammary alveoli which described by 4,9 in lactating ewe, 7 lactating cow, and 22 in lactating she camel which was modified for milk production. The alveoli are enlarged with epithelium hypertrophic and they are often folded, they are tense with full of secretion in the mammary glands of lactating.…”

“…The current results of epithelial type, measurements and dermal components were resemble that of immature mammary glands reported by 9 also these results were similar to those reported by 6,7 in she camel and cow respectively, also was reported by 12 in camel and in ewe 4 , in mare, bitch and queen. 13,14,15 The current study fined that content of sweat and sebaceous glands were similar that reported by 9 who mentioned that the gland parenchyma of immature and lactating ewes udder had furthermore of both apocrine sweat glands and sebaceous glands, this result disagree with that mentioned by 16 who refereed for neither sebaceous nor sweat glands are found in the wall of teat of lactating cow.…”

“…Thick well vascular layer of inter lobar fibrous connective tissue was recorded by 4,7,9,12,18,19,20 and 21 who mentioned that the lactating udder the connective tissue became little and lobulo-alveolar tissue is mostly increased.…”

“…5 Several studies have investigated the factors influencing milk production, especially lactation stage are very important 6 in cattle 7 in camel 8 , havestudying the relationship between the external and internal udder features, teat parameters characters with machine milked of dromedary camels and in ewes have compared between immature mammary gland and lactating mammary gland. 9 The current study was aimed to investigate the histological features of one day post parturition she goat udder.…”