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The spleen is essential for immunological responses to infections that are carried in the blood. The study aimed to investigate the gross anatomy, topography, histology and scanning electron microscopy of the spleen in the dromedary camel fetus (Camelus dromedarius). Fifteen camel foetuses aged 87-418 days were used to examine the prenatal development of the spleen. Standard anatomical, histological, and scanning electron microscopy procedures were applied. Anatomically, the spleen was situated medially to the ribs, caudally to the stomach, and on the caudolateral side of the abdominal cavity. It had C-shaped surfaces with rough surfaces and serrated edges. In the first and second trimesters, the spleen was dark brown and grayish in the third trimester. Histologically, the capsule was made of very thin mesenchyme connective tissue, and the parenchyma had a sporadic distribution of many cell types in the first trimester. The capsule displayed thick, dense, irregular connective tissue with descending trabeculae made up of collagen fibers and bundles of smooth muscle fibres in the second and third trimesters. The parenchyma in the second and third trimesters was presented as white and red pulps. Megakaryocytes were detected in all samples. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the spleen is lined with mesothelial cells separated by reticular connective tissue fibers. The reticular cells in the cordal gaps, marginal zones, and parietal sheath were relatively small in the first trimester of gestation. In the second and third trimesters, the reticular cells formed a network where dendritic macrophages and lymphoblasts were present. Medium-sized and tiny lymphocytes were seen. The results revealed that the spleen of the dromedary camel fetus was shown to have well-developed characteristics in the second and third trimesters of gestation. Also, the development of the camel's spleen was comparable to that of other mammalian species but with unique traits and characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed on ten adult dromedary camels of both sexes. The morphological features of the parathyroid glands which are one of the important endocrine glands in controlling calcium level were described. The parathyroid glands formed of external and internal parathyroids. The external parathyroid located at the region between the origin of occipital and lingual branches of common carotid artery, while the internal parathyroid located in most of the examined cases in a navel-like depression on the cranial or craniolateral border of the thyroid glands. Each parathyroid gland is encapsulated with a thin capsule of dense irregular connective tissue from which fine connective tissue septa extending to divide the gland into small lobules. The parenchyma of parathyroid glands is composed of three types of cell: chief cells, oxyphil cells and water-clear cells. However, the chief cells could be subdivided into light and dark cells at the ultrastructure level. The results of the present study will add information which will open a field of studies for the various biological and medical researchers, as well as, it may add a new knowledge for the role for the several cellular structures of the parathyroid in addition to its relation with pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]