Ahmed Sayed-Ahmed; Anwer Elshafey & Ahmed Abd-Elmaksoud

Summary

The camel (Camelus dromedarius) is an important multipurpose livestock species and its meat represents about 10% of the red meat consumption in Egypt. The reproductive efficiency of camel under natural condition is generally considered to be low. Sound knowledge about the tubular genital organs of this species might facilitate the application of new reproductive methodology. Our study was therefore conducted to investigate the morphology of mucosal surface of vagina and vestibule on camels using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mucosal surface of vagina consisted of stratified columnar epithelium with mucous secreting cells (goblet-like cells). SEM of vagina revealed the presence of longitudinal primary and secondary folds and small transverse folds. The columnar epithelium showed marked cell boundary and its apical surface was studded by a lot of microvilli. TEM confirmed the presence of microvilli at apical surfaces and showed some secretory granules in the supranuclear region of the columnar epithelium. The vestibule of dromedary camel was lined by stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. Basal lamina and stratum granulosum of this epithelium showed strong PAS positive reaction. SEM of vestibule revealed the presence of small longitudinal and fine transverse folds with a lot of mucous debris. However TEM of vestibule showed the stratified squamous keratinized epithelium with basal layer of cuboidal cells and superficial layers of squamous cells.

KEY WORDS: Dromedary camel; Vagina; Vestibule; Morphology.

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