Wool production and blood supply to skin and other tissues in sheep.
Quantitative measurements of blood flow (BF) to skin and several other tissues were made using radioactive microspheres in conscious sheep. The sheep were from established flocks that had been selectively bred for greater (Fleece plus) or lesser (Fleece minus) wool production. The BF rate per unit area of wool-bearing skin was significantly greater in the Fleece plus (n = 9) than in the Fleece minus (n = 6) group, but the correlation between skin BF and the wool growth rate in individual animals was modest (r = .581). There was a strong, positive correlation (r = .813) between wool production and pineal BF. Other tissues that exhibited significant BF differences between the two groups included adrenal glands and fat, which were greater in Fleece plus sheep, and thyroid glands, reticulum, rumen, and extremity skin (non-wool-bearing), which were lesser in Fleece plus sheep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hales
J R
JR
NSW Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Station, Trangie, Australia.
Fawcett
A A
AA
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008863:Microspheres; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012159:Reticulum / Q000098:blood supply; D012417:Rumen / Q000098:blood supply; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply; D014935:Wool / Q000254:growth & development*