COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDIES ON THE FOLLICULARATRESIA IN THE GOAT AND SHEEP OVARY

Comparative morphological and histochemical studies have been made of follicular atresia in the ovaries of goat and sheep. The atretic folli cles were classified as preantral (early and late) and antral (Ia, lb, IIa and IIb) follicles. In both preantral and antral atretic follicle s, thecal hypertrophy Was MoTe conspicuous in the goat ovary than in s heep ovary. Sudanophillic lipids showed differential distribution in g ranulosa cell layers. The enzyme 3 beta-HSDH activity increased in ant ral follicles, becoming intense in the hypertrophied thecae or interst itial gland cells of goat. Our results are compared and contrasted wit h those on other mammalian species, and possible physiological signifi cance is discussed.