No abstract

This study investigated the histomorphological features of developing rabbit respiratory acini during the postnatal period. On the 1st day of postnatal life, the epithelium of terminal bronchiole consisted of clear cells which intercalated between few ciliated and abundant non-ciliated (Clara) cells. At this age, the rabbit lung was in the alveolar stage. The terminal bronchioles branched into several alveolar ducts, which opened into atria that communicated to alveolar sacs. All primary and secondary inter-alveolar septa were thick and showed a double-capillary network (immature septa). The primitive alveoli were lined largely by type-I pneumocytes and mature type-II pneumocytes. The type-I pneumocytes displayed an intimate contact with the endothelial cells of the blood capillaries forming the blood–air barrier (0.90 ± 0.03 µm in thickness). On the 3rd day, we observed intense septation and massive formation of new secondary septa giving the alveolar sac a crenate appearance. The mean thickness of the air–blood barrier decreased to reach 0.78 ± 0.14 µm. On the 7th day, the terminal bronchiole epithelium consisted of ciliated and non-ciliated cells. The non-ciliated cells could be identified as Clara cells and serous cells. New secondary septa were formed, meanwhile the inter-alveolar septa become much thinner and the air–blood barrier thickness was 0.66 ± 0.03 µm. On the 14th day, the terminal bronchiole expanded markedly and the pulmonary alveoli were thin-walled. Inter-alveolar septa become much thinner and single capillary layers were observed. In the 1st month, the secondary septa increased in length forming mature cup-shaped alveoli. In the 2nd month, the lung tissue grew massively to involve the terminal respiratory unit. In the 3rd month, the pulmonary parenchyma appeared morphologically mature. All inter-alveolar septa showed a single-capillary layer, and primordia of new septa were also observed. The thickness of the air–blood barrier was much thinner; 0.56 ± 0.16 µm. TUNEL assay after birth revealed that the apoptotic cells were abundant and distributed in the epithelium lining of the pulmonary alveoli and the interstitium of the thick interalveolar septa. On the 7th day, and onward, the incidence of apoptotic cells decreased markedly. This study concluded that the lung development included two phases: the first phase (from birth to the 14th days) corresponds to the period of bulk alveolarization and microvascular maturation. The second phase (from the 14th days to the full maturity) corresponds to the lung growth and late alveolarization.

Summary A study was made of the micromorphological features of the endometrium of the goat (intercaruncular area). During the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle the lamina epithelialis was pseudostratified columnar, and the fibrillar elements of the endometrial stroma were mainly of the reticular kind. During pregnancy the endometrium became more folded and decreased in thickness as pregnancy advanced. The lamina epithelialis was denuded at the first month of pregnancy and restored itself in horns containing foetuses of 8.5 cm. CRL or more (second month.) The lamina epithelialis showed two types of cells, dark and light. The former type came to predominate as gestation proceeded. The surface epithelium showed apocrine activity, especially at the second and third month. The capillary layer was more prominent in the early stages of pregnancy. The diameter of the superficial and basal uterine glands increased as pregnancy advanced and the superficial glands had a taller epithelium. Zusammenfassung Veränderungen am Endometrium der trächtigen Ziege I. Histomorphologische Veränderungen am interkarunkulären Gebiet Während der Lutealphase des Brunstzyklus besteht die Lamina epithelialis aus mehrstufigem Zylinderepithel und die fibrillären Elemente des Stromas im Endometrium sind zur Hauptsache retikulär. Während der Trächtigkeit legt sich das Endometrium in Falten und seine Dicke nimmt im Verlaufe der Gravidität ab. Während des ersten Monats der Trächtigkeit fehlt die Lamina epithelialis und regeneriert im trächtigen Horn mit einer Foetuslänge von 8,5 cm. Die Lamina epithelialis zeigt einerseits dunkle, anderseits helle Zellen. Der dunkle Typ überwiegt bei fortschreitender Trächtigkeit. Das Oberflächenepithel zeigt apokrine Aktivität und zwar speziell während des 2.—3. Monats. Die kapilläre Schicht tritt in den ersten Phasen der Gravidität deutlicher hervor. Der Durchmesser der oberflächlichen und basalen Uterusdrüsen vergrößert sich mit dem Fortschreiten der Gravidität und die oberflächlichen Drüsen bekommen höhere Epithelzellen. Résumé Modifications dans l'endomètre chez la chèvre en gestation I. Changements histomorphologiques dans la région intercaronculaire Lamina épithelialis est composée pendant la phase lutéinisante du cycle des chaleurs par un épithélium cylindrique en plusieurs couches et les éléments fibrillaires du stroma dans la muqueuse utérine sont pour la plupart réticulaires. L'endomètre se met en plis durant la gestation et son épaisseur diminue durant la gravidité. Lamina epithelialis est absente durant les premiers mois de gestation et régénère dans la corne gravide avec un foetus de 8,5 cm. Lamina epithelialis présente d'un côté des cellules sombres et de l'autre des cellules claires. Le type sombre prend le dessus au cours de la gravidité. L'épithélium superficiel présente une activité apocrine et cela spécialement pendant les 2ème et 3ème mois. La couche capillaire ressort nettement dans les premières phases de la gestation. Le diamètre des glandes utérines superficielles et basales augmente avec l...

This work was carried out on the cornea of the eyeball of the donkey, cow, buffalo, camel, sheep, goat, pig and dog. The following dimensions were measured: the outer and inner dorsoventral and mediolateral dimension, also the plain, weight and the volume of the cornea and fibrous coat were recorded. The morphometric studies include also thickness of the cornea and its different layers centrally and peripherally. Generally, the thickness of the cornea is about 0.5–0.8 mm, the thickest cornea was observed in cow followed by pig and donkey, the thinnest cornea was observed in sheep followed by camel, goat and buffalo, while the cornea of the goat and buffalo has nearly the same thickness. The biometry of the cornea has been useful for assessment of certain pathologic and congenital abnormalities such as microcornea, megalocornea moreover this measurement are of utmost important when superficial keractectomy and keratoplasty are indicated.

This work was carried out on the scleral shelf of the eyeball of the donkey, cow, buffalo, camel, sheep, goat, pig and dog. The results of this work shows that the length of the shelf varies in different regions in all studied animals. The dorsal shelf is the longest followed by ventral one, the lateral shelf is the smallest followed by the medial one. The camel has the longest dorsal and ventral shelf followed by donkey, while the buffalo and cow have the smallest ones among the large animals. Among the studied small animals, the dog has the smallest dorsal and ventral shelf followed by pig. However, the small ruminants have the longest ones. On the other hand, the medial and lateral shelves are longest in donkey and smallest in camel. The dog and the small ruminants have the longest medial and lateral shelf of the studied small animals. The camel has the highest value of dorsal and ventral shelf and lowest value in the medial and lateral ones. Therefore the outline of the outer surface of the cornea is highly oval, the reverse results were observed in donkey; in which the cornea has highest degree of circularity followed by cow and buffalo.