A micromorphological study of the female copulatory organs of buffaloes in Egypt (Bos bubalus L.).

Samples from the different regions of the external genitalia of the Egyptian female buffalo, at different ages and different periods of the oestrus cycle, were examined microscopically after different strains. The walls of both vagina and its vestibule comprised mainly 3 coats; mucosa, musculosa and adventitia. The epithelia lining undergoes changes according to the period of the cycle. The circular muscle layer of vagina splits into 2 in the ventral wall and sandwitches in between a longitudinal layer and reunites oncemore in the dorsal wall. The lamina propria of the vestibula contains the following glandular structures: a) intraepithelial mucussecreting cells, b) large subepithelial glandular masses lying 1/2 cm caudal to hymen and extending for 3 cm caudally and 1 cm laterally in both dorsal and ventral walls, taking the form of compound tubuloaveolar muco-serous glands, and c) small glandular masses lying in the ventral median plane from the region of the fossa clitoridis and gradually disappearing cranially towards the suburethral diverticulum, taking the form of compound alveolar mucous glands. The clitoris is wholly formed of erectile tissue with smooth muscle fibers at its root and fat cells at its tip (glans). However, the latter cells were absent from calves.