Histomorphological studies on prenatal development of omasum of buffalo

Abstract

Histomorphological studies were made on the omasum of buffalo foetii with crown rump length ranging from 5.0 cm to 62.0 cm. The lamina epithelialis was stratified cuboidal and divisible into dark basal and light superficial zones. The nuclei ofthe basal zone were apical in location and eccentric in superficial zone. The papillae of the lamina propria appeared at 19.6 cm CRL whereas keratohyaline granules were observed in luminal epithelium at 38.5 cm CRL. There was concomitant increase in height of omasal epithelium with increase of crown rump length. The epithelium at luminal surface became flattened and showed signs of keratinization and desquamation at 55-60 cm CRL. The collagen and reticular fibres were well differentiated at 11.2 cm CRL. The tunica muscularis was comprised of inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle cells although reverse orientation of muscle fibres was also observed. The circular muscle layer was comparatively thicker.