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The cervix which changes with the reproductive cycle, history and age of the females, provides a natural communication between the uterus and the outside environment. This study investigated the chronological and morphological changes of the cervix of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat during postnatal development. Forty-five female WAD goats ranging from birth, Weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 of five goats each were used. The cervices were exteriorised, examined and morphometric parameters obtained and then prepared for histological examinations. The cervix is a firm body in all the age groups and internally bore thick muscular cervical rings which increased with age. The straight cervical canal is straight and can be easily penetrated by an artificial insemination pipette. The gross morphometry of the cervix increased significantly (p < 0.05) with age. The lamina propria-submucosa lacked cervical glands. The tunica muscularis showed histological evidence of postnatal development with increase in age of WAD goat. The epithelium of the cervix was initially pseudostratified columnar at birth but became simple columnar by week 12. Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain showed some mucus secretory activities at week 4. In conclusion, the study revealed that the cervix of WAD goat is not fully developed at birth but undergoes a postnatal development. The onset of secretory activities is associated with adenogenesis of uterine glands. Thus, the WAD goat probably attains puberty at week 16, earlier than previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated seasonal changes in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of Eidolon helvum in a typical African tropical environment. Seminal vesicles of forty‐eight bats were examined during the early rainy, late rainy and peak dry seasons, using gross anatomical, histological and ultrastructural techniques. The interlobular connective tissue septa from the external capsule demarcated the glandular parenchyma into numerous lobules of tubulo‐alveolar glands. A simple cuboidal epithelium of mono‐ or bi‐nucleated cuboidal cells lined the glandular mucosa during the rainy season. This was replaced by a bistratified cuboidal epithelium, whose upper layer of cells showed evidence of degeneration, during the dry season. The PAS‐positive secretory products appeared to be numerous during the rainy season, but few and clumped together during the dry season. The mean gross weight, interlobular septal thickness, acini diameter and epithelial height of the glands varied significantly with season. Ultrastructural features of the secretory cells during the rainy season showed well‐developed cytoplasmic organelles, numerous electron lucid secretory vesicles and electron‐dense granules. Secretory epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles are very active during the rainy season, while regeneration of degenerated epithelium in preparation for the next reproductive cycle occurs during the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to highlight the postnatal development of the uterine tubes of the West African Dwarf goat from birth to 28 weeks of age by gross examination and light microscopy. There was a caudal migration of the paired uterine tubes from behind the paired kidneys at birth to the pelvic inlet at week 8 of age. Each uterine tube exhibited three segments namely; infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus. A marked flexure, the utero-tubal junction, was the point at which the uterine tubes joined the uterine horns. The length and absolute weight of the uterine tubes increased from 4.95 ± 0.28 cm and 0.02 ± 0.01 g at birth to 14.98 ± 2.79 cm and 0.22 ± 0.03 g at week 28 of age, respectively. The mucosa of the infundibulum and the ampulla showed long, branched and anastomosing primary, secondary and tertiary mucosal folds which decreased in height towards the isthmus. The mucosal folds within the isthmus were short and lacked the anastomosing pattern. The epithelia of all three segments were pseudostratified columnar. Numerous secretory blebs and extruded nuclei became apparent from week 16 of age. The thickness of the tunica muscularis varied with the segments.