Seasonal variations in histomorphology and histochemistry of vesicular gland of buffalo bull

Abstract

The present study was conducted to study the seasonal changes in the histomorphology and histochemistry of the vesicular gland of buffalo bull. The vesicular gland of buffalo bull was collected from the abattoir immediately after sacrifice during winter and summer season. The tissue sample were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) and were processed for paraffin blocks preparation by acetone-benzene schedule and paraffin sections of 3-5 μm were obtained on glass slides with rotary microtome. The paraffin sections were stained with various stains to study the histomorphological and histochemical parameters. The results showed that the vesicular glands were compound tubulo-alveolar type of gland in buffalo and were composed of four layers, i.e. lamina epithelialis, propria submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica adventitia. In winter, the lumen of acini became wider than summer. The secretory material was observed during winter but could not be seen in summer season both in glandular acini and ducts. The connective tissue of stroma was less in winter and increased in summer which may be the reason for reduced lumen of glandular acini in summer. The tunica muscularis layer was thicker in winter than in summer season. The micrometrical data revealed that the average epithelial height and acinar diameter significantly decreased from winter to summer. The activity of neutral mucopolysaccharides, basic proteins, lipids and phospholipids were more in winter than summer season. The acid mucopolysaccharides were more in summer than winter. The results indicate that the vesicular gland of buffalo bull was more functionally active during winter season as compared to summer season.

Keywords

• Buffalo
• Histochemistry
• Histomorphology
• Seasonal
• Vesicular gland