THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

carabaos whose ages ranged from 5-7 years old. They
were acquired fresh from slaughtered animals and were
fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The samples were then
processed for histologic examination following the routine
paraffin block technique. Tissue sections were cut,
stained with H & E, PAS, Masson’s
Trichrome and Weigert’s stains and examined
microscopically at different magnifications. Twenty acini,
intralobular and interlobular ducts from male and female
samples were randomly measured using micrometer and
the number of secretory cells in each acinus were counted.
The nasolabial glands of the Philippine Carabao were
compound tubuloacinar glands and closely resembled the
salivary glands structurally. The duct system consisted of
the intercalated, intralobular, interlobular, and excretory
ducts. No striated ducts were observed. The glands were
located in the reticular layer of the dermis. The secretory
units were composed of pyramidal-shaped cells with round
and densely stained nuclei. Few myoepithelial cells
surrounded the acini and ducts of the gland. Significant
histologic differences were observed between the nasolabial
gland of the male and female carabao. The connective
tissue septae were more developed in the male. The acini
were larger but fewer in numbers in the male than in the
female. The lobules contained larger acini (27-50 u) in the
male than in the female (19-40 u). The acinus in the male
consisted of 8-10 secretory cells while in the female it
consisted of 5-7 secretory cells. The secretory ducts had
wider lumen in males than in females. The epithelial lining
of the intralobular and interlobular ducts were taller (19-31
u) in the female than in the male (11-19 u and 12-25 u,
respectively). With PAS stain, the Philippine carabao
nasolabial gland was observed to be a mixed gland but
predominantly mucous. This finding agrees with earlier
reports in water buffalo and cattle.
Keywords: microscopic anatomy, nasolabial glands,
Philippine carabao, Bubalus bubalis
*Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, 1999.
A-50
A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE MEASUREMENTS
OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF PREGNANT
PHILIPPINE BUFFALOES (CARABAO) (Bubalus
bubalis)*
J. C. Muñoz, Student
The present study aimed to determine the changes in the
20
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
measurements of the reproductive organs of pregnant
bubaline as an aid in pregnancy examination. However,
the author was constrained to use the bovine fetal
measurements in determining the stages of gestation
although it was recognized that the two species have
different gestation lengths. This was because no studies
yet have been made on the bubaline in this aspect to be
used as a basis. A study was made on 50 pregnant
bubaline reproductive organs at the first and second
trimesters of pregnancy from animals with ages ranging
from 8 to 16 years and weights from 350 to 450 kilograms.
The results are presented in tables. During early pregnancy,
the vagina was shorter but broader. The cervix, body and
horns of the uterus were generally longer and broader than
those of the non-pregnant animal. The uterine tubes were
relatively shorter. The ovaries with the corpora lutea were
greater in length, width, thickness and weight. Those
without the corpora lutea increased in length but decreased
in width, thickness and weight especially as pregnancy
advanced. No ova transmigration was observed. Fiftysix
percent of the total pregnancies occurred in the right
horn while 44% occurred in the left. In the future, it is
hoped that further studies will be made on this, keeping a
closer track of the breeding histories so that the definite
stages of gestation could be determined, and more accurate
measurements could be taken on the changes of the
reproductive organs in each gestation stage. It is also
suggested that greater number of sample animals per
gestation stage should be used to obtain more accurate
results. Limitations of the study include lack of breeding
records and previous calving histories, age and plane of
nutrition of the animals.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, pregnant, measurements
of the reproductive organs
*Undergraduate Thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1979.
A-51
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE
NEUROPEPTIDES IN THE STELLATE GANGLION
OF THE WATER BUFFALO*
T. Nasu, Faculty of Agriculture, Miyazaki University
G. D. de Ocampo, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
H. A. Molina, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Los Baños
S. Tateyama, Center for Laboratory Animals, Saga Medical School
M. Morimoto, Center for Laboratory Animals, Saga Medical School
The localization of some neuropeptides including
neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene