Postnatal development of the vagina in West African dwarf goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The postnatal developmental pattern of the vagina of WAD goat from birth to week 28 was investigated by gross and light microscopy. Forty five (45) female WAD goat kids were used in this study and were divided into nine groups of five goat kids per group. Each goat was euthanized, the vagina dissected out and studied, the length and weight measured. Data obtained were analysed by analysis of variance and DuncanE¼s new multiple range test with values of p< 0.05 considered significant. The tissues were fixed in Bouin’s fluid and routinely processed for histology. At birth, the length and weight of the vagina of the female WAD goat were 1.85 ± 0.10 cm and 0.10 ± 0.01 g, respectively. These increased significantly (p< 0.05) to 5.07 ± 0.39 cm and 4.04 ± 0.33 g at 28 weeks of age, respectively. The longitudinal folds and hymen were ill defined at birth but became increasingly prominent as the goats aged with the longitudinal folds extending into the vulva.  Histologically, the epithelium in all age group was a stratified squamous type. At birth, the lamina priopria-submucosa formed the cores of the longitudinal folds composed of loose connective tissue with numerous blood vessels. The tunica muscularis was ill defined. The tunica serosa/adventitia was a loose connective tissue containing blood vessels. The vagina showed increased development of its tissues with age. The histology of the vaginal tissues at week 16 was similar to older WAD goat. In all age groups, isolated lymphoid nodules were observed in the lamina priopria-submucosa. The result suggests that the WAD goat probably attained puberty earlier than previously reported.   Key words: West Africa dwarf goat, vagina, Longitudinal folds, puberty, tunica muscularis.