Histochemical Studies on the Liver of Goat Foetii (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the liver of goat foetii at various prenatal ages. The hepatoblasts and hepatocytes showed mild reaction to glycogen below 50 days of gestation. The hepatic cells and the haemopoietic cells exhibited a weak reaction to acid mucopolysaccharides up to 100 days of foetal age, afterwards the reaction increased to moderate to strong. The megakaryocytes showed strong PAS reaction, while the haemopoietic cells showed intense reaction to neutral mucoplysaccharides. The hepatic cells were moderately reactive for basic proteins, while the haemopoietic cells were strongly reactive up to 100 days of gestation which intensified at advanced stages. The haemopoietic cells of the hepatic parenchyma up to 49 days of gestation showed marked deposition of haemosiderin pigments but its intensity diminished with advancing foetal age.