5 years) age groups. In new born kid the glands were small, white cord like. It became "?" shaped at 6 months and "S" shaped at 12 months of age. A significant growth in size and weight of gland occurred at 6 month, then up to 12 month and beyond it grew slowly. The secretory acini of the lobules were lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium which contained A-tall columnar, B-basal and C-narrow columnar type of cells. The number per unit area and size of the gland increased with age significantly from birth in the prepubertal animals and up to puberty. In post-pubertal animals it did not grow significantly, rather the connective tissue elements were increased in the capsule (adventitia). The intralobular connective tissue however, decreased at the expense of growth of acini at all ages.]]>

SUMMARY:A study was conducted on the testicles of 30 male Gaddi goats, divided into 3 groups viz; prepubertal (0 day to 18 months), pubertal (<18 months to >5 yrs) and post-pubertal (>5 yrs) ages. The study revealed that the testis was covered by fibroserous tunica albuginia having outer fibrous layer and inner vascular layer with smooth muscle fibers at birth. The tunica albuginia continuously grew in thickness from prepubertal to postpubertal animals. The septula testis arising from the tunica albuginia, divided the parenchyma in lobules and converged at mediastinum testis. Few differentiated and undifferentiated Leydig cells were present in the intertubular spaces of neonates, which enormously increased in pubertal animals and replaced by fibroblasts in the postpubertal animals. The parenchyma comprised of solid sex cords in new born kids. These were converted into luminated tubules after 6 months of age and had clear cut tubuli contorti and tubuli recti leading to the mediastinum testis. In "0" day old kids, sex cords were filled with undifferentiated small cells located peripherally along the basement membrane and large primordial germ cells located centrally. By six months of age, latter started showing sign of degeneration and thus luminization of tubules started. Spermatogenesis startedin the seminiferous tubules of 12-18 months goat. In pubertal animals all the stages of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells were identified in the seminiferous tubules. The population of gonia cells and primary + secondary spermatocytes were 35% and 30% respectively. In postpubertal animals gonia cells were reduced to <30% and Primary + secondary spermatocytes were <20%. Many degenerating seminiferous tubules showed hyalinization, fibrosis and giant cells. The stroma and parenchyma ratio which was 35:65 at birth became 30:60 at 6 months, 25:75 at 12 months and 15:85 in pubertal and 20:80 in postpubertal animals. Increased stroma in last phase was associated with replacement of seminiuferous tubules by fibrous elements.

The study was conducted on the embryo/foeti of goat from 0-150 days of gestation, divided into group I (0-30 days), group II (31-60 days), group III (61-90 days), group IV (91-120 days) and group V (121-150 days of gestation). In group I whole embryo was processed and serial sections were cut whereas, in rest of the groups, pelvic urethra was dissected out and the tissues from the representative areas were used for the study. Grossly, on 49.33 days of gestation the pelvic urethra was present in the form of smooth cylindrical tube, approximately 4mm in length. The primordial of vesicular gland and bulbourethral gland appeared on 52 days of gestation at the junction of neck of urinary bladder with pelvic urethra and at the junction of pelvic and penile urethra respectively. The length, width, height and circumference of pelvic urethra increased with increased in gestation period, however the length (7 times) and circumference (9 times) increased maximum from group II to group V. The morphometrical parameters (length, width, height and circumference) of pelvic urethra were significantly correlated with the age and weight of foetus throughout gestation period. The colliculus seminalis, which was present in the form of ridge on 72 days of gestation, became distinct on 75 days of gestation. Histologically, on 28 days of gestation, the urogenital sinus was present as a cleft with in the cluster of cells. On 55 days of gestation, the process of luminization started with in the wall of pelvic urethra, which started first in its caudal part and proceeded cranially. All the four layers (Tunica mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and adventitia) were distinct. The lumen was lined with 3-4 layers of stratified epitheliumin group II but in group III on 70 days of gestation and beyond this distinct transitional epithelium was present. The formation of cavernous spaces started at 59 days of gestation. Their number and size increased with increased in gestation period. The thickness of submucosa, muscularis and adventitia increased with the advancement in the age of foetus, whereas the height of epithelium decreased.

SUMMARY:A study was conducted on the bulbourethral glands of 30 Gaddi goats, divided into three groups of 10 animals in each viz; Prepubertal (1 day old to < 18 months of age), Pubertal (18 months to < 5yrs of age) and Postpubertal (>5yrs of age). The study revealed that the glands grew at a faster speed up-to 6 months of postnatal life after which the pace slowed down considerably. Almost 10 times increase in weight and more than three times increase in all the linear mensurations were observed in prepubertal group from the time of birth. The stroma vs parenchyma ratio which was 80:20 in one-day-old kids showed three times increase in parenchyma in prepubertal animals, and the ratio became 43:57. In one day old kids luminated and non-luminated secretory end pieces were arranged in small groups around widely luminated duct; the forerunner of the central cistern. Initially the gland contained serous as well mucous end pieces; the latter being more preponderant. But in pubertal animals it became a mucous type gland, with only a little numbers of serous end pieces. Histochemically, the glandular acini were reactive to PAS and Alcian blue indicated the presence of glycol-muco-complex in the secretory components of gland.