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Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the reproductive organs of prepubertal gilts through morphometric analyzes. To perform these analyzes, the reproductive organs of eight prepubertal gilts (n=8) were collected and dissected immediately after slaughter. The morphometric evaluation revealed no significant differences between antimeres (left vs right). Likewise, in the histological evaluation no significant difference was found in the height of the epithelium of the reproductive organs evaluated. In addition, it was possible to characterize the predominant epithelium of the collected parts of the uterine tubes, horns and body. In the uterine tubes the predominantly type of epithelium identified was the simple ciliated columnar, whereas in the uterine body and horns the pseudostratified ciliated epithelium predominates. The diameter of the endometrial glands measured from the uterine body and horns samples did not differ significantly (p>0.05). On the other hand, the follicular diameter differed significantly among the follicular categories evaluated (p<0.01): primordial (24.88±0.22μm), primary (29.65±0.47μm) and secondary (113.96±7.29μm). In conclusion, the reproductive organs of prepubertal gilts did not show significant differences in the analyzed morphometrical parameters. However, the values obtained in this study can be used as physiological values for prepubertal gilts.