PRENATAL GROWTH CHANGES IN OVARY OF SURTI BUFFALO

Ovaries of 62 foetuses from clinically healthy Surti buffalo were stud ied at 7 different phases of prenatal life, ranging from 35 to 305 day s. The germinal ridge appeared at 36 days of gestation. The gonadal ti ssues differentiated into a peripheral cortex and central medulla by d ay 62. The cords of Pfluger and eggnests were evident by day 83. The p rimordial, primary, secondary and tertiary follicles appeared at day 9 8, 124, 158 and 191 respectively. The medulla revealed almost adult ty pe of appearance at day 158. The ovary was covered by flat type of sur face epithelium mixed with cuboidal cells during 65 to 75 days of gest ation which changed to columnar type at 158 days. Tunica albuginea app eared at 94 days and differentiated at day 166. The reticular and coll agenous fibres were recorded at day 41 and 62 of gestation. The highes t number of primordial and primary germ cells was recorded by 116 to 1 55 days. Number of secondary and tertiary follicles increased during 1 58 to 305 days of gestation. Towards the term, a gradual increase in a verage diameter of germ cells and their nuclei was noticed.