COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDIES OF OVARIAN FOLLICLES IN THE GOAT AND SHEEP

Comparative morphological and histochemical studies have been made of the ovarian follicles in goat and sheep. The difference between the me an follicle diameter of goat and sheep ovaries was statistically nonsi gnificant. The largest antral follicle was 727 mu m and 1125 mu m in d iameter in goat and sheep ovaries, respectively, obtained from slaught erhouses. However, a significant difference was observed between mean oocyte diameters in goat and sheep follicles. Extranucleolar bodies in the oocytes of growing follicles were of more common occurrence in go at than in sheep ovaries. Few binucleate, biovular anti triovular foll icles were observed which ultimately undergo atresia. Sequential histo chemical differences in DNA, RNA, hexose-containing mucopolysaccharide s, sulphated mucopolysaccharides, lipids and 3 beta-HSDH have been des cribed in different follicle components of goat and sheep ovaries. Acc umulation of lipid yolk material in goat occytes was more as compared to sheep oocytes. It was thus concluded that the goat oocytes attained relatively larger size by accumulating more quantity of biochemical c omponents such as nucleic acids, lipid droplets, etc. in comparison to sheep oocytes. These chemical components may be used during fertiliza tion and embryogenesis.