Transmission electron microscopic studies on the skin of goat (Capra hircus)

The present study was conducted on skin of goats of either sex to study the age wise changes in the ultrastructure of different components of skin. It was observed that the epidermis consisted of keratinocytes and non-keratinocytes. The stratum corneum was a multicellular structure in lateral neck region. The cell membrane was serrated and arranged in an over lapping manner giving compactness to the skin. The cells of stratum granulosum had oval to oblong nuclei. The cytoplasm showed ample amount of keratohyaline granules mostly located in the peripheral zone. The cells of stratum spinosum had oval nuclei with numerous secretory granules in the cytoplasm. The skin at ventral thoracic region showed presence of melanocytes in the cells of stratum basale. The plasma membrane of stratum basale cells showed gap junction, tight junction and intermediate junction. Electron microscopically, the cells of stratum spinosum in ventral neck region showed indented nuclei with one broad pole and another narrow pole. The special cells such as Merkel cells and melanocytes were located in the deep epidermal or epidermo-dermal junction. The papillary layer of dermis of dorsal neck region during the present study showed circular axons. The acini of the sebaceous gland were composed of large central cells and peripheral small cells, surrounded by connective tissue. The sweat glands were composed of columnar cells with elongated nuclei and euchromatin. The present study would form a baseline data on the transmission electron microscopic study of skin of goat which would be helpful in future research prospective.

HIGHLIGHTS

The cytoplasm of stratum granulosum contained ample amount of keratohyaline granules mostly located in the peripheral zone.

The plasma membrane of stratum basale cells showed gap junction, tight junction and intermediate junction.

Merkel cells and melanocytes were located in the deep epidermal or epidermo-dermal junction.