Notulae Scientia Biologicae (Mar 2017)

Some Uterine and Ovarian Biometric Changes in Pregnant Maradi Female Goats (Capra aegagrus hircus L.)

  • Chidozie Nwabuisi OKOYE,
  • Clifford Nwabugwu ABIAEZUTE,
  • Okezie Samuel EKERE

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb9110012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 54 – 58

Abstract

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This study aimed to determine the changes in the biometry of the ovaries, of the uteri and its contents in the Maradi doe-goat during the three terms of pregnancy. Pregnant uteri from 28 female goats and their corresponding ovaries were used to study the biometric changes in the ovaries, gravid uteri, amniotic and allantoic fluids volumes, fetuses and plancentomes during the three terms of pregnancy. The results revealed that there was no significant variation in the ovarian weight during the three terms of pregnancy. However, there were significant variations in the ovarian length (left ovary 2.15 ± 0.16 cm; right ovary 2.10 ± 0.10 cm) and width (left ovary 1.77 ± 0.19 cm; right ovary 1.60 ± 0.10 cm) in the third term of pregnancy compared to the ovarian length and width in the first term of pregnancy. The uterine weight showed significant variation in the first term, second term and in the third term of pregnancy. The uterine length of both horns also showed significant variations in the first term (left side 31.40 ± 1.79 cm; right side 28.22 ± 0.98 cm), second term (left side 51.58 ± 4.14 cm; right side 50.51 ± 3.62 cm) and in the third term (left side 70.67 ± 1.76 cm; right side 80.38 ± 2.75 cm) of pregnancy but only in the third term of pregnancy was a significant difference in the lengths of the left side uterine horn (70.67 ± 1.76 cm) compared to the right side (80.38 ± 2.75 cm). The number of plancentomes was constant in both uterine horns throughout gestation; however the mean caruncular diameter increased progressively from the first term of gestation through the third term of pregnancy. The smallest and largest caruncles were observed on the ventral surfaces of the uterine horns, and the plancentomes were observed to be aligned in a linear manner along the longitudinal axis of the uterine horns. This study shows that there are differences in the biometrics of the ovary and uterus in Maradi goats compared to some other breed.