THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus bubalis L.) AND
ITS CROSSBREED*
J. F. Policarpio, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and
Agricultural Sciences, De La Salle-Araneta University
G. D. De Ocampo, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
A. S. Sarabia, Supervising Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao Center,
Iloilo City -
The study was conducted to describe and compare the
location, microscopic structure and histochemical
characteristics of the internal parathyroid of Philippine
carabao (PC) and Phil-murrah F1 (PM F1) crossbreed.
Eight (8) thyroids, which contained the internal parathyroids,
were collected; four (4) from male PC and four (4) from
PM F1. the glands were processed using the paraffin
technique, stained with various histochemical stains, and
examined under light microscope. Results showed that the
internal parathyroid in PC was embedded in the dorsomedial
part of the thyroid were it blended with the thyroid tissue.
The parathyroid parenchyma consisted of small follicles
that contained light pink homogenous material. The follicle
was lined by principal cells while the interfollicular area
was occupied by parafollicular cells arranged singly or in
groups. The internal parathyroid cells of PC did not respond
positively to all the stains used. In the PM F1, the internal
parathyroid was a single ovoid mass located just beneath
the thyroid capsule. It was surrounded by a thin capsule
and made up mainly of cords or clumps of principal cells,
with a few oxyphils. The principal cells were classified as
light, dark and sanescent cells. The light and dark cells of
PM F1 reacted moderately to periodic acid Schiff (PAS),
indicating the presence of glycoprotein in these cells. The
internal parathyroids of PC and PM F1 differed with regard
to location, histology and histochemistry.
Keywords: internal parathyroid, Philippine carabao, Phil-
Murrah F1 crossbreed, histology, histochemistry
*Proceedings of the 35 th Annual Convention of the Philippine
Society of Animal Science (PSAS), 1998, Metro Manila,
Philippines, pp. 42-49. Part of the thesis submitted by the
senior author for MS degree in Veterinary Medicine.
A-61
BIOMETRY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE THYROID
GLAND OF PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus bubalis
L.) AND ITS CROSSBREED*
J. F. Policarpio, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
Gregorio Araneta University Foundation
G. D. De Ocampo, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
A. S. Sarabia, Senior Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao Center,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
24
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
The location, shape, measurements, microscopic structure
and histochemical characteristics of the thyroid glands of
four entire male Philippine carabaos (Bubalus bubalis L.)
and four entire male Phil- Murrah F 1 (PMF 1 ) were described
and compared. The results revealed that the gross and
microscopic characteristics of thyroid gland were basically
similar in both the Philippine carabao and the Phil- Murrah
F 1 crossbreed. The gland was related to the cricoid cartilage
and the dorso-lateral part of the first three tracheal cartilages.
It consisted of two roughly triangular lateral lobes connected
by a narrow isthmus at their middle or caudal parts. The
measurements did not differ significantly between the two
breeds, except for total volume of thyroid that was
significantly larger in the PMF 1 . Measurements of the two
lateral lobes in each breed did not differ significantly except
for lobar thickness in PMF 1 where the left lobe was
significantly thicker than the right lobe and may account for
the higher total volume of thyroid in PMF 1 . Differences of
the two lateral lobes were not significant between the two
breeds. Histologically the most significant findings in both
breeds were the following: i. a three-layered thyroid
capsule; ii. follicular cells with apical blebs and vesicles in
the supranuclear cytoplasm; iii. parafollicular cells that
reached the follicular lumens and presented apical
cytoplasmic protrusions; and iv. colloid that showed
peripheral serrations or vacuolations and detached from
follicular epithelium. Histochemical staining demonstrated
the presence of glycoprotein which was essentially a
thyroglobulin in follicular cells and colloid.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, biometry, histology,
histochemistry, thyroid, Bubalus bubalis L.
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(1&2):
53-64, 1997.
A-62
SEM STUDIES ON THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF
PHILIPPINE SWAMP BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis).
I. TONGUE AND ESOPHAGUS*
G. J. Quibael, Student
G. D. de Ocampo, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
Scanning electron and light microscopic studies revealed
five types of lingual papilla in the Philippine swamp buffalo.
The filiform papillae were predominant and varied in different
parts of the tongue. The fungiform papillae had a smooth,
flat surface and were rounded toward the edges. The vallate
papillae resembled a doughnut: a centrally rounded
protrusion surrounded by a circular ridge separated by a
deep furrow. The conical papillae had a leaf-like structure
with blunt ends. The lenticular papillae were similar in