Abstract

Introduction: the uterine tube (Tubae Uterinae) of buffalo was narrow and extensive flexuous tube lay very closely to the ovary. It was extended from the tubal extremity of the ovary to the tip of the uterine horn and was suspended in the mesosalpinx which was very thin, translucent and vascular. The uterine tube wasn’t a simple passage for ova and sperm only, but also it possessed several important functions such as, it captured the ova released from the ovary and conveyed them toward the uterus. Moreover, it also conveyed the sperms in their ascent for fertilization which occurred normally in the ampulla of the tube Methodology: the present investigation was carried out on twenty specimens of female genitalia of adult freshly slaughtered and apparently healthy buffaloes. The ages of the animals, ranged from 5 to 15 years. Ten specimens were dissected to perform the gross anatomy of the uterine tube, and stereomicroscopic examination, other ten specimens were used for scanning electron microscopic examination. Result: the stereomicroscopic and scanning electron microscopic studies revealed that, the mucosa of the infundibulum was distinguished by small cords, which originated from the undulating anterior free border which converged distally forming primary longitudinal folds and then secondary folds ran obliquely from the lateral walls of these folds and branching toward the basal areas between folds to form cul-de-sacs and pockets. Frequent divergences or convergences or interconnections of folds were observed in the ampulla, more observed at ampullary-isthmic junction, and less frequent in the isthmus. The isthmic mucosa was characterized by folds, ridges, grooves and deep cul-de- sacs or pockets. The uterine tube of buffalo was subjected to cyclic change during the follicular and luteal phases of estrous cycle. In particular, the ciliated non secretory cells were extensive during the follicular phase, while non-ciliated secretory cells were extensive with several bulbous apical processes and large numbers of cilia were hidden during the luteal phase