Age-Related Gross and Histomorphometrical
Dynamics of Pineal Gland (Epiphysis
cereberi) Associated with Melatonin Profile in Beetal Goat
(Capra aegagrus hircus) of
Pakistan
Mumtaz Hussain1,
Razia Kausar1 *,
Anas Sarwar Qureshi1 and Huma Jamil2
1Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad
2Department
of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad
*Corresponding author:
razia.kausar@uaf.edu.pk
Abstract
Mammalian pineal gland, an integral part of
brain, is a photo-neuroendocrine gland which controls the circadian rhythms and
reproductive activity in seasonal breeders. This study was designed to evaluate
the gross morphological and histological changes in pineal gland and plasma
melatonin profile of Beetal goat in relation to different age groups. For this
purpose, a total of 24 healthy female Beetal goats were selected from the local
abattoir of Faisalabad and were divided into three age groups naming,
prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal (n=8). Before slaughtering, 10 ml blood
was collected in EDTA coated tubes for determination of plasma melatonin level
using ELISA kit. After slaughtering, heads of the animals were dissected, pineal
gland was enucleated and gross morphometric measurements of the gland were
taken. For light microscopic studies, the pineal tissues were fixed in a
solution of 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed by the routine tissue
paraffin sectioning technique. The tissue sections were stained with Hematoxylin
and Eosin, modified von Kossa stain and toluidine blue. The results revealed
that age of the animals has a significant effect (P≤0.05) on gross anatomical
parameters of pineal gland (weight, length, width and volume) as well as
histomorphometric parameters including number and volume of pinealocytes,
relative area of parenchyma, brain sand, connective tissue and blood vessels of
the pineal gland. Age also affected the plasma melatonin level and was found
significantly highest (5.63±0.20 pg/ml) in the pubertal group. In conclusion,
the present study revealed that age influences the gross and histomorphology
along with plasma melatonin level of the Beetal goat.
To Cite This Article:
Hussain M, Kausar R,
Qureshi AS, Jamil H, 2023. Age-Related gross and histomorphometrical dynamics of
pineal gland (Epiphysis cereberi)
associated with melatonin profile in beetal goat
(Capra aegagrus hircus) of Pakistan.
Pak Vet J, 43(3): 531-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.051