Fetal differentiation of yankasa sheep (Ovis aries) kidney: A morphometric study
Abstract
A morphometric study was conducted on the kidney of 17 fetuses of the Yankasa sheep (Ovis aries) collected from the Sokoto metropolitan abattoir, over a period of one month at different gestational ages. The approximate age of the fetuses was estimated from the crown vertebral rump length (CVRL) and samples were categorised into first, second and third trimester. Out of the seventeen (17) fetuses at different gestational age used for the study, 7 (48%) were females while 10 (52%) were males. 6(35%) fetuses belong to first trimester, 5(30%) belong to second trimester and 6(35%) belong to third trimesters of pregnancy respectively. The mean crown vertebrate-rump length (CVRL) ranged from 12.47 ± 1.80 cm at first trimester to 33.79 ±1.52 cm at third trimester. All kidneys were found to be irregularly elongated and reddish-brown in colour. Both kidneys are smooth externally and internally lobulated, in which the intensity of the lobulation increases with the advancement in gestation. The surface was covered with a thin fibro-muscular capsule. Both kidneys were located below the transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae of each side, with the right one being more cranial in all stages of development. Adipose tissue was found at the hilus of each kidney in the third trimester fetuses. A distinct renal pelvis with a well developed ureter originating from the middle of the renal pelvis was found in all kidneys. Base on the above findings, the gross differentiation of the Yankasa sheep kidney is similar to that of ovine, bovine, equine, llama, and guanaco but differs from that of the feline, canine and porcine. Mean while, considering the morphological features observed in the study, the bovine kidney may become fully matured and functional at post-natal age.
Downloads
Copyright (c) 2016 Journal of Advances in Biological and Basic Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
