Comparative histomorphometric studies on spleen in adult sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The study was conducted on the histology and micrometry of the spleen of six adult sheep and goat in Western Maharashtra region. The samples were collected from the slaughter houses near by the Shirwal village. The spleen of sheep was triangular, whereas, in goat it was roughly quadrangular in shape. Histological study revealed that the red and white pulps were enclosed by thick capsule and was subdivided by trabaculae. The spleenic capsule was composed of collagen, elastic and smooth muscle fibers. .The red pulp was consisted of sinuses and splenic cord, which contain reticular fibers, cells, macrophages, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells. The white pulp was consisted of lymphatic nodules and diffused lymphatic tissues.The thickness of trabaculae was significantly higher in goat (217 ± 09.06 µ) as compared with that of sheep (118.83 ± 05.05 µ). The number of white pulp per mm2 was slightly higher in goat (01.83 ± 00.30) as compared with sheep (01.33 ± 00.21).The thickness of capsule in sheep and goat was 260 ± 09.76 µm and 137 ± 09.72 µm, respectively. The diameter of white pulp in sheep and goat was 335.16 ± 22.37 µm and 307 ± 12.29 µm, respectively. The level of significance was 5%.