Histomorphological Examination of Oviducts in Gravid and Non-gravid Ewes: Implications for Reproductive Biology in Sheep

The present investigation was conducted to explore the histo-architectural study of both the gravid and non-gravid oviducts of garole sheep. Livestock plays an important role in the national economy of an agricultural developing country like India and they are reared for the production of milk, meat and wool, particularly in arid, semitropical or mountainous areas. No line of demarcation between lamina propria and tunica submucosa because of the absence of lamina muscularis. The present investigation was carried out with apparently healthy adult 6 gravid and 6 non-gravid oviducts of same age group of ewes procured from Govt. registered slaughter unit, West Bengal, India. Lamina epithelialis was composed of pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia on maximum cells. The epithelial height was more in gravid oviduct. The height and branching of the longitudinal folds of tunica mucosa were more in gravid oviduct. The elastic fibers were found mainly in the wall of blood vessels and these were more in the gravid oviducts. Comparatively, the average diameter of glandular epithelium was maximum in gravid oviduct. In both the groups the apical borders of lining epithelium showed strong Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) positive reaction. There was no longitudinal muscular layer in tunica muscularis and the collagen fibers were interspersed within the circular muscles layers of both the gravid and non-gravid oviducts. A very less amount of mucopolysaccharides were present in both the tunica muscularis and tunica serosa layers. In further research, some immune cells present in the oviduct can be identified, studied comparatively and can be concluded the possible reasons of miscarriage/abortion/successful pregnancy.