Histometric characteristics of different elements in the dermis of ovis

ABSTRACT: The aim of this investigation was to study the histolometric characteristics of different elements in the dermis of ovis. A total of twelve clinically healthy Iranian Lori-Bakhtiari sheep (aged 5-8 months) were selected and categorized on the basis of sex (6 of each sex). Samples were taken as small pieces from different regions of the skin, fixed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The determination of histolometric characteristics of different elements in the dermis were carried out using light microscope and lattice line graticule (5*5). The Student t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data and detect significant differences. Results showed that the histometric characteristics of studied different dermal structures varied between sexes and among the different body regions. Sex-related differences were found in the percentages of total follicles, blood vessels and connective tissues (P > 0.05). Except for the connective tissue, the means of the other parameters in male were higher than females. This breed may be characterized by the total follicles percentages per mm² of 1.85-10.65, arrector pili muscles densities of 0±3.11, sweat glands percentages of 1.39-6.94, connective tissues percentages of 14.35-24.07, sebaceous glands densities of 0-1.85, and blood vessels percentages of 0-3.71 per mm² in this age. It can be concluded that the general histometric characteristics of different elements in the dermis of skin in Lori-Bakhtiari are similar to those of Bakhtiari sheep, but there are also some differences.