AGE RELATED CHANGES IN THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE HEART, KIDNEYS AND ADRENAL GLANDS OF NILI-RAVI BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

R. HUSSAIN, A. S. QURESHI, R. U. SHAHID AND S. U. RAHMAN¹

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, ¹Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

    This study was carried out to improve the basic information on the morphology and histology of the organs directly involved in the blood pressure maintenance of an individual. A total of 40 clinically healthy Nili-Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were divided into two age groups of 20 animals each viz., young (12-48 months of age) and adult (49-96 months) of either sex. The results revealed that the absolute weights of heart, kidneys and adrenal glands, mean values of width and circumference of heart, thickness of wall of right and left atria and ventricles, mean values of length of right and left kidneys, width, circumference, and length of the adrenal glands were significantly (P<0.05) higher in adult buffaloes than young ones. The average relative weights of heart, kidneys and adrenal glands were significantly (P<0.01) higher in young buffaloes as compared to the adult ones. The relationship of the width of right adrenal glands between young and adult buffaloes was non-significant. It is concluded that the absolute weight, width, circumference and length of heart, kidneys and the adrenal glands increase, while relative weights of these organs decrease with advancing age.