Histochemical Studies on Gonads of Buffalo During Early Foetal Life

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the gonads of 0buffalo fetuses collected from the abattoir immediately after sacrifice and the age of fetus was determined by measuring the CVRL. The testis and ovaries were fixed in 10% NBF solution, processed and paraffin blocks were prepared. The sections of 5-7 ?m were obtained and
stained with Periodic Acid Schiff, Alcian blue, Bromphenol blue and Sudan Black B for the demonstration of acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides, basic proteins and lipids. The reaction of acid and neutral mucopolysachharides was found to be moderate to strong in the basement membrane of testicular cords and rete cords. In the ovary, the activity of acid mucopolysachharides was moderate to strong at the corticomedullary junction, whereas that of neutral mucopolysachharides in the basement membrane of ovarian follicles and underlying germinal epithelium. The reaction of Sudanophilic lipids and basic proteins were more in the mediastinum testis and ovarian cortex in the developing gonads. The presence of these histochemical moieties was correlated with the physiological activity of the gonads.