Micrometrical study on adrenal gland during prenatal development in buffalo (Buhalus buhalis)*

Abstract

The study was conducted on the adrenal glands of 43 buffalo foetuses ranging froni 39 mm to 890 mm crown-rump length (CRL). The capsule ofthe gland showed an increase in thickness from 90.29±19.8811m in group 2 to 265.59±39.10 11m in group 3 and the rate ofincrease in thickness ofcapsule was more in group 3. The average length (1234.88±613 .80 11m) ofthe adrenal primordium was more than width (666.2 I± I92.82 11m) in group 1. In group 2 the thickness offoetal cortex was more (I65.58±58.50 11m) than definite cortex (39.56±26.86 11m), however, the rate of increase ,in thickness ofdefinite cortex was more than foetal cortex. The average density of cells per unit area was more in the definite cortex (9.60±O.82) than foetal cortex (8.96±1.32). The percentage contribution ofdefinite cortex was more in group 3 than that in group 2, however, foetal cortex showed a decrease in percentage proportion in group 3. The adrenal medulla showed an increase in thickness in all the groups. The medulla constituated major proportion of the gland throughout the development.