Developmental dynamics of spleen morphogenesis and histogenesis in local Iraqi Awassi sheep fetuses: Insights from light and scanning electron microscopy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon, 51013, Iraq

10.22103/jab.2026.27153.1896

Abstract

Objective
Spleen plays an important role in the hemopoietic function in embryonic life. During the hepatic growth stage, spleen produces blood cells along with liver while in myeloid stage, it produces the blood cells along with liver and bone marrow. Destruction of older erythrocytes, lymphocytes and thrombocytes take place in spleen. The aim of this study was to investigate the prenatal morphological and histological development of the spleen in local Awassi sheep used light and scanning electron microscopy.
Materials and methods
Thirty spleen specimens were collected from healthy pregnant Awassi ewes at different stages of gestation. Fetal age was determined using the fetal crown rump length (CRL) equation and the specimens were classified into three groups: Group 1: 50–60 days, Group 2: 90–100 days, and Group 3: 130–140 days. For scanning electron examination, small spleen blocks (~1 mm³) were fixed. SEM was used to observe the splenic surface at multiple magnifications. Data analysis of histological and morphological parameters was performed using SPSS version 24.
Results
In group 1, spleen a tiny reddish bloody patch then appeared reddish in color more cohesive while, by scanning electron microscopy and histologically revealed an immature surface structure with incomplete development of the cortex and the trabeculae were undeveloped yet reflecting early splenic differentiation. In group 2, the spleen showed an increase in size and the trabecula extend from capsule to parenchyma, clear differentiation of white pulp and red pulp, indicating progressive structural maturation. In group3, spleen was more development with advancement of gestation and become relatively similar to that in postnatal periods and consist of the splenic capsule, trabeculae, red pulp, white pulp with present of cellular components and increased in trabecular network by light and scanning microscope examination.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the progressive prenatal maturation of the spleen and underscore its pivotal role in immune system development. Deviations from these normal microstructural patterns may indicate pathological or immunological disorders.

Keywords

References

Alhasoon, N., Bahreini Behzadi, M. R., & Mohammadabadi, M. (2026). The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) on MYOD1 gene expression in the muscle tissues of the thigh, shoulder, and loin in Kermani lambs. Journal of Livestock Science and Technologies, 14(2), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.22103/jlst.2025.25689.1658
Amirteymoori, E., Khezri, A., Dayani, O., Mohammadabadi, M., Khorasani, S., Mousaie, A., & Kazemi-Bonchenari, M. (2021). Effects of linseed processing method (ground versus extruded) and dietary crude protein content on performance, digestibility, ruminal fermentation pattern, and rumen protozoa population in growing lambs. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 20(1), 1506-1517. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1984324
Arey, L. B. (1958). Developmental anatomy: A textbook and laboratory manual of embryology (6th ed.).
Aughey, E., & Frye, F. (2001). Comparative veterinary histology with clinical correlates. Iowa State University Press.
Barazandeh, A., Mohammadabadi, M. R., Ghaderi-Zefrehei, M., & Nezamabadipour, H. (2016). Predicting CpG islands and their relationship with genomic features in cattle by hidden Markov model algorithm. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 6(3), 571-579.
Chaurasia, S. K., Menaka, R., Rao, T. K., & Tyagi, K. (2019). Prenatal gross morphometrical studies on spleen with special reference to prediction of foetal age in Surti goat (Capra hircus). Indian Journal of Animal Research, 53(12), 1619-1623. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.B-3794
Figueiredo, M. L., & Turek, J. J. (Eds.). (2025). Dellmann’s textbook of veterinary histology (7th ed.). Wiley.
Gupta, S. C., Gupta, C. D., & Gupta, S. B. (1979). Arterial segmentation in the spleen of the sheep (Ovis aries). Journal of Anatomy, 129(Pt 2), 257-260.
Gupta, V., Farooqui, M. M., Prakash, A., & Kumar, P. (2017). Morphological and cytological differentiation of goat spleen (Capra hircus). Indian Journal of Animal Research, 51(6), 1027-1032. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.10298
Hadalizadeh, Z., Dayani, O., Khezri, A., Tahmasbi, R., Mohammadabadi, M., Solodka, T., Kalashnyk, O., Afanasenko, V., & Babenko, O. (2021). Expression of calpastatin gene in Kermani sheep using real-time PCR. Journal of Livestock Science and Technology, 9(2), 51-57. https://doi.org/10.22103/jlst.2021.18165.1381
Haldar, A., Gaikwad, M., Patra, A., & Chakraborty, S. (2021). Cytological, histochemical, and ultrastructural study of the human fetal spleen of various gestational age with future implications in splenic transplantation: An anatomical perspective. Cureus, 13(10), Article e18911. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18911
Jaji, A. Z., Saidu, A. S., Mahre, M. B., Yawulda, M. P., Girgiri, I. A., Tomar, P., & Da’u, F. (2019). Morphology, morphometry and histogenesis of the prenatal dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) spleen. Macedonian Veterinary Review, 42(2). https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2019-0020
Kandil, B., Erhan Baycumendur, F., & İşbilir, F. (2025). Investigation of connective tissue fibers in the spleen of sheep fetuses (second and third trimester). Van Veterinary Journal, 36(1), 41-46. https://doi.org/10.36483/vanvetj.1595092
Kumar, A., Roy, K. S., Sohi, B. S., & Doley, P. J. (2011). Biometrical study on foetal spleen of Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 76(1). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAnS/article/view/3529
Malik, M. R., Pillai, P. V. A., Parmar, M. L., & Taluja, J. S. (2014). Morphohistogenesis and mode of growth of spleen in goat (Capra hircus). The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 71(3). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAnS/article/view/36471
Marwa-Babiker, A. M., Alkhodair, K. M., Abdelhay, M. A., Elseory, A. M. A., Zolain, H. B., Al-Ramadan, S. Y., & Althnaian, T. A. (2023). Morphology of the spleen in the camel’s foetus (Camelus dromedarius): Gross anatomy, histology and scanning electron microscopic studies. Journal of Applied Veterinary Sciences, 8(4), 54-61. https://doi.org/10.21608/javs.2023.219602.1250
McGeady, T. A., Quinn, P. J., FitzPatrick, E. S., & Ryan, M. T. (2009). Veterinary embryology. Blackwell Publishing.
Mehta, S., Deshmukh, S. K., Minj, A. P., Kumar, K., Kumari, L., & Shahi, J. K. (2016). Gross morphometrical postnatal developmental studies on spleen of Chotanagpuri sheep (Ovis aries). Veterinary Science Research Journal, 7(2), 83-86. https://doi.org/10.15740/HAS/VSRJ/7.2/83-86
Mohammadabadi, M. R. (2016). Inter-simple sequence repeat loci associations with predicted breeding values of body weight in Kermani sheep. Genetics in the Third Millennium, 14(4), 4386-4393.
Mohammadabadi, M. R., Shaban Jorjandy, D., Arabpoor Raghabadi, Z., Abareghi, F., Sasan, H. A., & Bordbar, F. (2022). The role of fennel on DLK1 gene expression in sheep heart tissue. Agricultural Biotechnology Journal, 14(2), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.22103/jab.2022.19402.1399
Mohammadabadi, M., Babenko, O., Borshch, O. O., Kalashnyk, O., Ievstafiieva, Y., & Buchkovska, V. (2024). Measurement of the relative expression pattern of the UCP2 gene in different tissues of the Raini Cashmere goat. Agricultural Biotechnology Journal, 16(3), 317-332. https://doi.org/10.22103/jab.2024.24337.1627
Mohammadabadi, M., Kheyrodin, H., Latifi, A., & Babenko, O. I. (2022). mRNA expression profile of DNAH1 gene in testis tissue of Raini Cashmere goat. Agricultural Biotechnology Journal. https://doi.org/10.22103/jab.2022.20199.1428
Mohammadinejad, F., Mohammadabadi, M., Roudbari, Z., & Sadkowski, T. (2022). Identification of key genes and biological pathways associated with skeletal muscle maturation and hypertrophy in Bos taurus, Ovis aries, and Sus scrofa. Animals, 12(24), Article 3471. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243471
Mohammadipour Saadatabadi, L. M., Mohammadabadi, M., Nanaei, H. A., Ghanatsaman, Z. A., Stavetska, R. V., Kalashnyk, O., Kochuk-Yashchenko, O. A., & Kucher, D. M. (2023). Unraveling candidate genes related to heat tolerance and immune response traits in some native sheep using whole genome sequencing data. Small Ruminant Research, 225, 107018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.107018
Mohassen, F. W., & Al-Jebori, J. G. A. (2020). Ontogenesis of thyroid gland in Awassi sheep foetuses: Prenatal study. Plant Archives, 20(1), 1096-1100. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:218882709
Molaei Moghbeli, S., Barazandeh, A., Vatankhah, M., & Mohammadabadi, M. (2013). Genetics and non-genetic parameters of body weight for post-weaning traits in Raini Cashmere goats. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45, 1519-1524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0393-4
Nejad, F. M., Mohammadabadi, M., Roudbari, Z., et al. (2024). Network visualization of genes involved in skeletal muscle myogenesis in livestock animals. BMC Genomics, 25, Article 294. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10196-3
Nishant, N., Prakash, A., Farooqui, M., & Kumar, P. (2018). Topography and biometric studies of prenatal goat spleen at different gestational age. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy, 30(2). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJVA/article/view/85650
Niyf, A. M., & Al-Jebori, J. G. A. (2024). Ontogenesis of rectum in local Awassi sheep foetuses (Ovis aries) during prenatal periods. Journal of Animal Health and Production, 12(S1), 45-54. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2024/12.s1.45.54
Noakes, D. E., Parkinson, T. J., & England, G. C. W. (2019). Veterinary reproduction and obstetrics (10th ed.). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2014-0-04782-X
Noori, A. N., Behzadi, M. R. B., & Mohammadabadi, M. R. (2017). Expression pattern of Rheb gene in Jabal Barez Red goat. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 87(11), 1375-1378. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v87i11.75890
Onu, J. E., Fawaz, A., Hena, S. A., Sonfada, M. L., Umaru, M. A., & Shehu, S. A. (2016). Fetal differentiation of the spleen of Sokoto Gudali cattle: A histomorphological study. Direct Research Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, 1(2), 9-15. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.
Saadatabadi, L. M., Mohammadabadi, M., Ghanatsaman, Z. A., Babenko, O., Stavetska, R. V., Kalashnik, O. M., Afanasenko, V., Kochuk-Yashchenko, O. A., Kucher, D. M., & Nanaei, H. A. (2023). Data of whole-genome sequencing of Karakul, Zel, and Kermani sheep breeds. BMC Research Notes, 16(1), Article 353. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06630-6
Safaei, S. M. H., Dadpasand, M., Mohammadabadi, M., Atashi, H., Stavetska, R., Klopenko, N., & Kalashnyk, O. (2022). An Origanum majorana leaf diet influences myogenin gene expression, performance, and carcass characteristics in lambs. Animals, 13(1), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010014
Sembulingam, K., & Sembulingam, P. (2012). Essentials of medical physiology (6th ed.). Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
Shokri, S., Khezri, A., Mohammadabadi, M., & Kheyrodin, H. (2023). The expression of MYH7 gene in femur, humeral muscle, and back muscle tissues of fattening lambs of the Kermani breed. Agricultural Biotechnology Journal, 15(2), 217-236. https://doi.org/10.22103/jab.2023.21524.1486
Suvarna, K. S., Layton, C., & Bancroft, J. D. (2018). Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques (8th ed.). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-00143-5
Thomas, S., Sinha, D. N., Singh, A. K., Deopa, D., & Niranjan, R. (2017). Histogenesis of human fetal spleen. National Journal of Clinical Anatomy, 6(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-4025.297651
Vahabzadeh, M., Chamani, M., Dayani, O., & Sadeghi, A. A. (2020). Effect of Origanum majorana leaf (sweet marjoram) feeding on lamb’s growth, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemical parameters. Small Ruminant Research, 192, Article 106233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106233
Zamani, P., Akhondi, M., Mohammadabadi, M. R., Saki, A. A., Ershadi, A., Banabazi, M. H., & Abdolmohammadi, A. R. (2011). Genetic variation of Mehraban sheep using two inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(10), 1812-1817.
Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 3
June 2026
Pages 453-476

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics