Vol. 8, Issue 2 (2019)

Author(s):
VR Annie, KM Lucy, S Maya, N Ashok, B Becha, MH Hiron, VN Vasudevan and T Sathu

Abstract:
Study of structure of genital system of the animal is important for the diagnosis of genital disorders which inturn help in the enhancement of production. The majority of female calves born as hetero–sexual twins are sterile. The present study was conducted to evaluate anatomical, histological and histochemical alterations of the reproductive tract of a freemartin cow obtained from the Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu. The external genitalia of the animal was normal and there was no tuft of hairs in the vulval region. After recording the gross observations, histological and histochemical studies were conducted using sections obtained from different regions of the tract. Gross studies revealed that ovaries, oviduct, uterus and cervix were absent. Instead of that there was an elongated tube of length 60 cm and diameter 4 cm with a dilated posterior portion. Sections were stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s trichrome and van Gieson’s stains. The wall of the tube was not organized into the three tunics. Instead, the wall was made upof bundles of smooth muscles interspersed with dense connective tissues. The glands were absent. The histochemical studies showed that the luminal cells were negative for alcian blue (pH 2.5) indicating the absence of sulfated acidic and neutral mucopolysaccharides and the secretory activity. The findings indicate that the abnormal tissue architecture affects the uterine environment and it results in the failure of reproduction. So it is important to be diagnosed at early age to replace the stock population and to avoid the economic loss to the farmers.