Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies of Endometrium in Buffalo (Bos bubalis L.) at Follicular and Luteal Phases

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Vet. Medicine, Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

This study was carried out to observe morphological changes of buffalo endometrium at follicular and luteal phases. Uterine tissues were collected from female buffaloes at abattoir and the selected estrous stages were categorized into the follicular (n = 5) and luteal (n = 5) phases. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study surface epithelial changes. The results by SEM examination, the ciliated and secretory cells with different patterns, i.e. abundant microvilli on the apical part or secretory protrusion in various degrees, distinctly increased at the follicular phase. Meanwhile, there were numerous secretory cells with stubby microvilli covered throughout the endometrial surface with secretory vesicles, which were observed numerously at endometrial glandular orifices during the luteal phase, at while the ciliated cells were scarcely seen. The buffalo endometrium obviously revealed modifications during the estrous cycle for physiological events, i.e. sperm transport, early embryonic development and implantation.
 

Main Subjects