SUMMARY:Fractality has emerged as a feature of the organization of some complex natural systems. Several biological secretions show fractal-like patterns for their crystallization phenomena but their presence in crystallizations of bovine cervical mucus (BCM) is yet unknown. In order to assess the fractality of BCM crystallization, samples of this fluid were taken from heifers at oestrus, their crystalline patterns photographed and its morphology analyzed. Among the many images obtained for BCM crystallizations, one of them had a highly symmetrical geometric arrangement, possessing three zones characterized by pine-like, arboriform structures, evidencing a remarkable similarity between them. Moreover, fractal dimensions obtained for these zones were statistically equal when analyzed by using specialized software. In summary, this brief communication shows, for the first time, that a pattern of crystallization of BCM at oestrus possesses a fractal-like organization.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.