Histogenesis of liver of sheep and goat

Abstract

The study was conducted to elucidate the histomorphological changes in the liver of sheep and goat during prenatal development. Hepatocytes were polyhedral, quadrangular or even triangular in outline containing centrally located oval nudei. Mitotic ffgures were more in order toeti than in younger ones. Hepatocytes were arranged in groups or anastomosing cell cords around the central vein in younger foeti and typical radial arrangement appeared in the foeti of 100±3 days and onwards. Kupffer cells were more frequent in the liver of younger foeti. Concentration of haemopoietic islands was more in younger ages in the peripheral part of liver parenchyma. Bile canalicular system was observed in the liver of goat foeti at 90 ± 3 days while it appeared in sheep foeti at 100±3 days. The process of prenatal liver development in sheep and goat was almost same to that of other mammals including cattle and pig.