Morphology of the European bison ovaries in relation to female age

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe the European bison ovary in terms of its macroscopic and microscopic structure, supported by morphometry. The objective was also to trace changes in the organ’s structure depending on age and sexual maturity. Material for the study were isolated ovaries of 55 European bison females selected from herd in Białowiez˙a Forest. The animals were divided into two age groups, first with females aged from 2 to 18 months inclusive and the second with females from 2 to 20 years of age. The ovaries were measured (10 measurements) and later sections of organs were taken and subsequently tinged using general method HE to make the microscopic picture’s description. The results obtained were subject of statistical analysis. The analyzed traits, except related to primal follicles and growing cavernous, differ significantly
between young and sexually mature females. Moreover stronger correlation of the features examined was ascertained as well as higher relation between those features and the body mass in the group of matured females was observed.