THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

A-31
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC FEATURES
OF THE RETICULAR GROOVE OF THE CARABAO
(Bubalus bubalis)*
C. P. Maala, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
J. F. Catotal, Student
N. Y. Calingasan, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
G. D. de Ocampo, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
K. Y. Ilio, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
The reticular groove of the carabao was morphologically
similar with that of cattle. The mucosa of the reticular groove
was lined by a highly keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium. Papillae normally observed in the mucosa of
adjacent reticulum and rumen were absent in the reticular
groove of the carabao. Instead, the reticular mucosa
showed numerous surface elevations separated by furrows.
Occasionally, crater-like orifices were seen at the center of
these surface elevations. In some cases, smaller openings
were observed inside the larger ones. The importance of
these orifices is not yet known. Throughout the mucosal
surface of the reticular groove, flattened polyhedral cells
and a few desquamated cells were observed. Corneal
cells appeared granular because of the presence of
numerous cytoplasmic projections that lined the entire
surface of the cells. Based on the present findings, it could
be concluded that the reticular groove of the carabao is
morphologically similar to that of cattle although no surface
papillae were observed.
Keywords: scanning electron microscopy, reticular groove,
carabao, Bubalus bubalis
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science,
13(1): 23-32, 1987.
A-32
SOME HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL
FEATURES OF THE THYROID GLAND AND ITS
ISTHMUS IN THE PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus
bubalis)*
C. P. Maala, DVM, MVSc, PhD, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
L.V. Reynoso, DVM, Former Undergraduate Student
The thyroid gland of the carabao consisted of two lateral
lobes and an isthmus. The thyroid lobes were attached to
the lateral surface of the cricoid cartilage and in some
specimens to the third tracheal cartilage. They were
brownish red in color measuring from 36 to 45 mm long, 26
ANATOMY
to 37 mm wide and 9 to 12 mm thick. The isthmus was
located in the groove between the cricoid cartilage and the
first tracheal cartilage. In some specimens, the isthmus
was attached to the external surface of the second tracheal
cartilage. The isthmus was also brownish red in color
measuring 77-117 mm long, 8-12 mm wide and 2-5 mm
thick. It was widest at its junction with the lateral lobes. The
isthmus of the bubaline thyroid gland was glandular. Its
histological features were almost similar with those of the
lateral lobes. The capsule was well developed in both
lateral lobes and isthmus, but there were more interfollicular
connective tissue in the isthmus. The interfollicular connective
tissue divided the lateral lobes and isthmus into several
lobules containing follicles of varying sizes and shapes. In
both lateral lobes and isthmus, the larger follicles were
centrally located while the smaller ones were peripherally
located. The follicles were line by the follicular and
parafollicular cells, with the latter as the predominant cell
type. Histochemically, the colloid in both lateral lobes and
isthmus was positive for neutral mucin. The follicular cells
in both lateral lobes and isthmus were positive for sulfated,
acidic and neutral mucopolysaccharides. The parafollicular
cells in both lateral lobes and isthmus were negative for
neutral, acidic and sulfated mucopolysaccharides.
Keywords: histology, histochemistry, thyroid gland,
isthmus, Philippine carabao, Bubalus bubalis
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
pp. 45-49
A-33
SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF HAIR OF CATTLE
AND PHILIPPINE CARABAO AS SEEN UNDER
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE*
C. P. Maala, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
F. M. Vilela, Jr., Student
G. D. de Ocampo, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
K. Y. Ilio, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
The surface morphology of hairs from the head, thorax,
forelimb, abdomen, inguinal region and tail of adult Philippine
carabao and cattle of both sexes were examined under the
scanning electron microscope. Carabao hairs exhibited
small and more irregularly arranged surface cuticles than
those of cattle. Hair cuticles from the cattle were arranged
in an oblique manner, while those of the carabaos,
transversely oriented. The morphological differences of the
cuticular pattern of hairs from the different regions in both
animals were slight. Based on the present observation, the
cuticular pattern of hairs of carabao and cattle observed
13