Pakistan Veterinary Journal (Jan 2010)
Morphometric Evaluation of Blood Pressure Regulating Organs in Teddy Goats (Capra hircus) in Relation to Age and Sex
Abstract
In this study the heart, kidneys and adrenal glands of 36 teddy goats (Capra hircus) of both sexes, divided in 3 age groups viz. kids (6-12 months), adults (13-21 months) and old (22-24 months) were collected after slaughter. Immediately after collection, absolute and relative weights, length, width, thickness, circumference and volume of all organs were recorded. Shape of the heart was cone like and the coronary groove was filled with fat. None of the anatomical parameters of the heart, kidneys and adrenal glands differed between male and female goats, except that absolute weight of the right kidney and volume of right and left kidneys were higher in males than in females (P<0.05). Absolute and relative weights of the heart, volume, length, circumference, right atrial wall thickness and right ventricle wall thickness were higher in old than in kids or adult animals (P<0.05). No difference was seen in various anatomical parameters between the right and the left kidneys. However, values of most of the anatomical parameters were higher in old than in kids or adult goats (P<0.05), except relative weight of the organ and thickness of medulla, which did not differ among animals of three age groups. For adrenals, the absolute weight and length of the left organ were higher than the right (P<0.05). Similarly, absolute weight, length and width were higher in old than in kids (P<0.05). It is conceivable from these findings that goat has a stable cardiovascular system. The development of heart, kidneys and adrenals showed an increase parallel to the advancing age to adjust with the increasing blood pressure due to physiological development process. Sex, however, played a secondary role.
