Histochemical Study of Immature Blackbuck Pancreas in Al-Najaf, Iraq

The histological makeup of the pancreas in immature male and female Iraqi blackbuck (Caprus hircus) has not been well described. We aimed to describe the histological features of the pancreas in immature male and female Iraqi blackbuck. Samples were collected from 20 immature male and female animals' pancreas, obtained from the Al-Najaf slaughterhouse. The samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed using standard histological methods, and stained with Gomori's, weigart's, Harris hematoxylin, eosin, and maldonad's stains (LOBA Chemie laboratory reagents and fine chemicals). The study showed that the goblet cells were underdeveloped and crowded, while the centroacinar cell's position and characteristics might indicate that these cells are involved in the transport of fluids and secretions within the duct system. The mean distribution of the total number of Langerhans islets' cells was similar across all groups (males and females), with no discernible variances. Morphometric analysis of the Langerhans islets revealed no differences in the distribution of islets between any of the studied groups in the right, left, or body of the pancreas. The histological analysis of the pancreas in immature male and female Iraqi blackbuck showed unique features regarding the arrangement of the islets of Langerhans, goblet cells, and centroacinar cells. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of the physiology and pathology of the pancreas in this species.