A histological and morphometrical comparative study on the skin of kivircik and Karacabey merino sheep

Abstract

In this study, Kivircik and Karacabey Merino Sheep bred in extensive condition in South Marmara region were used. The skin samples taken from six different parts of body were investigated for histologically, histochemically and histometrically. As the difference between the thickness of dermis of the two breds were statistically unimportant, the difference between the thickness of stratum papillare and stratum reticulare was statistically important. The hair follicles were in a deeper position in Kivircik Sheep than of the Merino Sheep. Hair of Kivircik Sheep was made up of medulla, cortex and cuticula while of Karacabey Merino Sheep was made up of cortex and cuticula. While the difference between the numbers of primary follicles in square milimeters for the two breds was unimportant, the difference between the numbers of secondary follicles was important for Karacabey Merino Sheep. The difference between the total numbers of the hair follicles was statistically important only on the skin of shoulder region of Karacabey Merino Sheep. The diamater of the primary and secondary hair follicles of the three different parts of body were thinner in Karacabey Merino Sheep than of the Kivircik Sheep.