Examination of Structural Features of Skin in Sheep Breeds Fetuses with Histological Methods

Abstract

In this study, skin's features were investigated in sheep during fetal period. Seventy sheep fetuses were divided in to seven fetal age groups with Crown-rump-length method. The skin samples which were taken from back region of fetuses were examined with histomorphogical methods. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formaline. The tissue sections that were taken from parafin tissue blocks were stained with trichrome, silver-orcein-anilin blue, PAS-Haemalaun, acid fuchsin-anilin blue-orange G stain. It was observed that epidermis has 2-3 cell layers in first group and 3rd group. The layers were increased to 7 th and 8 th in 3rd group, then it were started to decrease and ended up with 3-4 layers. The thickness of epidermis were measured as 17.74 mu, 40.72 mu and 23.28 mu in the first, third and last groups respectivly (P < 0.005). In the dermis, although reticular and collagen fibers were exist even in the first group elastic fibers were seen clearly in the last group. The average initial thickness of dermis was 143.55 mu in the first group. It was 1770.00 mu in the last group. First hair follicule, secunder hair follicule, fat gland, sweat gland, Musculus arractor pilli and keratinisation of epidermis were seen at 56th, 82nd, 82nd, 94th, 86th, 94th days respectively.