Histomorphological and histochemical studies on the female genitalia of ageing goat. IV. Histomorphology of ovarian cortex.
The germinal epithelium of goat ovary was found to be lined with simple cuboidal cells which became taller and then pseudostratified columnar towards its continuity with the epithelium lining the fallopian tube. Flattened germinal epithelium and interruptions in it were common in animals older than 3 years of age. Thickness of tunica albuginea increased with age. Total number of follicles per unit sectional area and percentage of primary follicles were computed to increase upto one year of age, whereafter decreased considerably by over five years. Percent secondary follicles, percent large follicles (including those at very early stages of atresia) and percent advanced atretic follicles were recorded to increase with age over one year and onwards. Considering estrous cyclic changes it was interpreted that the tunica albuginea was thickest at proestrus and gradually thinned towards diestrus, whereas, total number of follicles and number of primary follicles per unit sectional area and percent primary follicles were calculated to be the highest at proestrus showing decreasing trend towards diestrus where it was the lowest. However, percent secondary follicles, percent large follicles and percent advanced atretic follicles showed increasing trend towards the end of diestrus though comparatively greater variation was recorded at early periods in the cycle.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy