Fate of Ovigerous Cords in Buffalo Foetii: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract

The study was conducted on the ovaries of buffalo foetii (2 to 25 cm CVRL) to observe the development and subsequent regression of ovigerous cords and interstitial tisssue. The study revealed that differentiation of ovarian cortex and medulla started at 10.0 cm CVRL. The cortex was clearly demarcated into two zones; zone-I containing ovigerous cords and zone-II was characterized by the presence of newly formed follicles at 37 cm CVRL. Interstitial cells located within the medullary tissue penetrating cortex were first differentiated at 15 cm CVRL and became maximum at 20.0 cm CVRL. The ovigerous cords contained germ cells and pregranulosa cells. Electron microscopic studies showed that these cells contained abundance of lipid droplets and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. At later stages of development, there was regression of ovigerous cords and interstitial cells.