Scanning electron microscopy of the nasal cavity of the buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

Scanning electron-Iuicroscopy of the nasal cavity was performed on 5 male healthy buffalo calves. The nasal cavity was divided rostro-caudally into vestibular, transitional-I, respiratory, transitional-II and olfactory regions. The vestibular portion was lined by stratified squamous epithelium with polyangular cells forming island-like structures. These cells were categorized as type-I possessing small microvilli and type-II was poorly defined and lacked a distinct structure. Transitional zone-I was sandwiched between the vestibular and respiratory regions of the rostral portions of the dorsal and ventral nasal turbinates and cOluprised microvillus cells, ciliated cells and goblet cells. The nasal cavity except the caudal part of the ethmoturbinates was lined by ciliated epithelium, which formed a dense mat of cilia masking the presence of goblet and microvillus cells. These ciliated cells were absent from transitional zone-II. The olfactory region was marked by the presence of olfactory vesicles with sensory cilia and numerous openings of Bowman's glands.