Histomorphometric and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of the Skins of Egyptian Water Buf- falo (Bubalus bubalis) and One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt.

2 Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt.

Abstract

Abstract
The current work focuses on study- ing the histomorphological character- izations of the skin of Egyptian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and one- humped camels (Camelus dromedar- ius). Therefore, few in depth histolog- ical, morphometric and immuno- histochemical comparative studies are so far available. This study was carried out on the skin specimens of fourteen adult, male Egyptian water buffaloes and one-humped camels (seven/each). Buffalo's skin showed several histological similarities with that of camel, but there were some histomorphometric and immuno- histochemical differences. In spite of being the epidermis of buffalo signifi- cantly thicker than in camel, the horny layer of camel's skin was sig-


nificantly thicker than buffalo, in addi- tion, it appeared laminar and weavy, while that of buffalo appeared com- pact. Hair follicles were more numer- ous in camel than in buffalo while sweat glands had larger diameter in buffalo. The secretory epithelium of the sweat glands varied from cu- boidal with central nuclei in buffalos to columnar with basal nuclei in camels. Immunohistochemically, vi- mentin and melanosome were over- expressed in camels than buffaloes. It is concluded that buffalo's skin was thicker than camel, which put it up for the production of skin quality re- quirements of the leather industry. However, higher vimentin content in camel skin may suggest higher ten- sile strength than in buffalo. Fur- thermore, it is reported that overexpression of melanosome in camel's skin than buffalo may play a role in photoprotection against harmful sunny rays in harsh hot climate of the desert.

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