Histogenesis of spleen in foetus of surti goats

A study was conducted to elucidate the microstructural and developmental changes in the spleen of 30 Surti goat foetuses at different stages of prenatal development (from 44 to 144 days, 4.0 to 41.0 cm crownrump length; CRL). At 44 days (4.0 cm CRL), the splenic tissue was developing in close proximity to stomach. Groups of few haematopoietic cells were observed in the parenchyma of spleen at the age of 50 days (6.5 cm CRL). From 58 days (9.2 cm CRL) of gestation, reticular cells were increased in number and began to form a reticular framework around the developing arterioles. The foetal splenic parenchyma showed predominance of red pulp at the age of 63 to 64 days (11.6 to 12.2 cm CRL). At 84 days of gestation (19.0 cm CRL), white pulp appeared in the form of irregularly diffused patches of lymphoid tissue scattered among the red pulp. From 95 days (23.0 cm CRL) onwards, splenic parenchyma showed separate red and white pulp; however in Surti goat foetuses histogenesis of red and white pulps still continued even at the age of 144 days (41.0 cm CRL). The detailed knowledge about the organogenesis and histogenesis of goat foetal spleen at various stages of development may be used to assess functional status of spleen in prenatal period.