Histological and histocheinical studies of fetal skin follicles in Border disease of sheep

Abstract

The structure of the epidermis and dermis, and the distribution of reticulin, glycogen, lipid and sulphydryl groups in the skin have been examined in control and Border disease affected sheep fetuses at 95 and 115 days' gestation. In Border disease, there was a temporary retardation of development of the epidermis and skin follicles at 95 days. There was no difference in the structure of the dermis between control and experimental fetuses at either age. No evidence was found to suggest that the keratogenous process was abnormal in Border disease, but the sulphydryl zone of the primary fibres of affected fetuses was situated nearer the skin surface than in control fetuses. This may have been a consequence of the larger size of primary follices in Border disease. Glycogen present in the undifferentiated epidermis of both groups at 95 days' gestation was absent from the stratified squamous epithelium of the 115 days's fetuses. Glycogen and lipid droplets were present in the outer root sheath of primary follicles of all fetuses examined, but their significance is unknown.