Pregnancy related biometric changes in the ovaries and uterus of the sahelian goat

Abstract

Ovaries and uteri of 40 apparently normal, sexually mature female Sahelian goats (30 pregnant and10 non-pregnant) were obtained and measured, immediately after slaughter, at the Metropolitan abattoir, Maiduguri, Nigeria, over a period of one year. This was with the aim of documenting pregnancy related biometrical changes in them. The diameter and thickness of the right ovary showed extremely significant increase (p<0.001) during the 14-20 weeks of gestation. The dimensions of the uterine horns showed levels of significant increases (p<0.05 to 0.001) along the stages of gestation, those of the uterine body showed extremely significant increase (p<0.001) throughout gestation, while the cervical diameter and length respectively only showed significant and very significant increases during the 14-20 weeks of gestation. Conclusively, in the Sahelian goat, pregnancy does not seem have significant effect on the dimensions and weight of the left ovary to full term but causes extremely significant increases in the diameter and thickness of the right ovary during the 14-20 weeks of gestation. The diameter and thickness of the right ovary is extremely significantly more than those of the left at the 14-20 weeks of gestation. The gravid and non-gravid right ovaries are larger in dimensions and heavier in weight as compared to left ones, which confirming the fact of right ovary being more active than the left one. Pregnancy causes levels of significant increase in the dimensions of the uterine horns, consistent extremely significant increase in the dimensions of the uterine body, along the stages of gestations. It also causes levels of significant increase in the dimensions of the cervix during the 14-20 weeks s of gestation. The right and left uterine horns of the Sahelian goat show no significant difference in dimensions both in pregnant and non-pregnant states.