Distribution and Quantitative Patterns of T Lymphocytes in the Female Reproductive Tract and Ovary Throughout the Oestrus Cycle of Angora Goats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the distribution of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive T lymphocytes in the female reproductive tract and ovary throughout the estrous cycle of Angora Goats. Tissue samples were collected on days 5, 10 and 16 of the oestrus cycle and then fixed in formol-sucrose fixative (pH 6.8) and stored for 22 hours at +4°C. The samples were then additionally fixed in Holtz' solution under the same conditions they were in the first fixation. Cryostat sections of 8 μm thickness were stained for alpha naphthly acetate esterase activity at pH 6.4. The ANAE positive T lymphocytes were mainly located in the epithelium, lamina propria and around blood vessels in other region of connective tissues. Density of ANAE positive T lymphocytes in the ovarian and uterine tissues was highest on day 10 and 16 respectively. It was concluded that the estrous cycle may have been responsible for variations in the distribution of ANAE positive T lymphocytes in goat ovarian and reproductive tract tissues.