PRENATAL HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF CERVIX IN THE SURTI BUFFALO

Cervices from clinically healthy Surti buffalo foetuses (39) were stud ied at 6 different phases of prenatal life, ranging from 67 to 305 day s (8.5 to 102.5 cm CVR). The first evidence of formation of the cervix was observed in 67 days (8.5 cm CVR) foetus where 2 Mullerian tubes w ere fused together, caudally to form a common tubular structure which developed into the cervix. It was lined by tall, columnar epithelium a t this stage. The primary, secondary and tertiary cervical mucosal fol ds appeared at 85 days (12.0 cm CVR), 94 days (14.5 cm CVR) and 130 da ys (25.0 cm CVR) foetuses respectively. The average number, height and width of primary cervical mucosal folds increased with age. A large p rimary mucosal-submucosal fold was noticed at 126 days (23.2 cm CVR) a s precursor of future annular ring of cervix. Cervical lining epitheli um varied from pseudostratified to simple columnar epithelium with sec retory evidence at 274 days (89.0 cm CVR) onwards. Cervical glands wer e observed in 143 days (31.0 cm CVR) foetus.' Muscularis and serosal l ayers of the cervix developed simultaneously in 94 days (14.5 cm CVR) stage and fully developed by 166 days (41.0 cm CVR) foetus. The averag e thickness of cervical tunics revealed an increasing trend with the a dvancing gestational ages. However, the average thickness of cervical epithelium was variable.