Histo-morphology of the Uterus and Early Placenta of the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and Comparative Placentome Morphology of the African Buffalo and Cattle (Bos taurus)

Abstract

Differences exist in reproductive physiology between African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), cattle (Bos taurus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The aim of this study was to histo-morphologically compare the anatomy of non-pregnant and pregnant uteri of buffalo and cattle. Two non-pregnant uteri and placentae of six pregnant African buffalo were used. Early placentome formation (fetal crown rump length (CRL): 2-17.5 cm) in S. caffer and B. taurus was compared. The endometrium of buffalo uteri comprises round to ovoid, dome-shaped and gland-free caruncles. A predominantly simple columnar epithelium of non-ciliated cells covers caruncular tissue, while, additionally, ciliated cells occur in the epithelium of the intercaruncular areas and within the simple columnar or pseudostratified epithelium of the endometrial glands. During early gestation, multiple placentomes develop. Unlike the placentomes in cattle at similar CRL, buffalo placentomes do not develop a caruncular stalk. The sessile, dome-shaped buffalo placentome has simple, slightly conical villi branching less than in cattle, thus indicating different and less complex feto-maternal interdigitation than seen in the latter. A synepitheliochorial interhaemal barrier can be expected in the buffalo placenta, as the occurrence and ultrastructure of trophoblast giant cells resemble those described in cattle.

Expression of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 in cattle placenta during early pregnancy

“…The proper tissue collection and classification of bovine placenta were confirmed by histological examination (Figure ). The histology of cattle placenta observed in this study is similar to the features described in related documents (Eurell & Frappier, ; Peter, ; Schmidt et al., ). The type of cattle placenta at early pregnant stage was cotyledonary and epitheliochorial.…”

“…Blood vessels are enriched in the foetal chorioallantoic membrane, which leads to a nutritional link between the foetus and the maternal body (McGeady, 2006). In addition, as a structure of delivering nutritions and transmitting signals, cattle caruncle is described as no stalked and domed-shape, and in contact with the foetal cotyledons (Schmidt, Gerber, Soley, Aire, & Boos, 2006). The chorioallantoic membrane encloses caruncle with the endometrium to form the maternal placenta and the foetal placenta (Assis Neto, Santos, Pereira, & Miglino, 2009).…”

Morphometric Analysis of Yak Placentomes During Gestation

“…In yak, there were three significantly different placentome shapes. The majority of placentomes were flat and very few were mushroom‐shape with a distinct caruncular stalk, which were similar to those in cattle and African buffalo (Schmidt et al,2006). In contrast to the yak, the most placentomes were mushroom‐shape in cattle.…”

Rainfall-driven sex-ratio genes in African buffalo suggested by correlations between Y-chromosomal haplotype frequencies and foetal sex ratio

“…Conception dates of the calves were estimated on the basis of the midpoint age per age cohort (i.e. 1.5, 4.5, 7.5, 10.5, 15 and 21 months for the 1998 data and 2 months for the 1982-1983 data), assuming a gestation period of 340-343 days [25,58]. …”