Wool follicle development in the New Zealand Romney and N type sheep. V. The pre-natal relationships between growth, skin expansion, and primary follicle number

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Stephenson

A method is presented for estimating changes in primary follicle number on different regions of the body of the sheep foetus from linear growth measurements and primary follicle density determinations. The major factor controlling the initiation of new primary follicle anlagen on different regions is shown to be rate of skin expansion, and therefore it appears probable that there is a competition effect between anlagen during this phase of development. After allowance is made for area increases, there are still real differences between regions in the rates of initiation of primary anlagen. There is also evidence that, during the period of primary anlagen initiation, foetuses with a greater surface area have a greater total number of primary anlagen.

1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Stephenson

Quantitative aspects of follicle initiation and development have been studied in a series of N-type and New Zealand Romney foetuses. Density of the follicle population and ratios of secondary to primary follicles were examined on 13 positions of the body which covered the main wool-bearing areas, the face and head, and the limbs. Primary follicle development is initiated first on the head and limbs and throughout subsequent development these regions are most advanced. Primary follicle density reaches a maximum between 75 and 90 days of foetal age, after which it decreases as a result of skin growth. Secondary follicle initiation is more rapid on the wool-bearing areas of the body, and higher ratios of secondary to primary follicles are recorded from these regions. No real differences have been found between N-type and New Zealand Romney foetuses in population density of the different follicle types at any age or in the number of secondary follicles developed per primary follicle. The growth of larger primary fibres and follicles in N-type foetuses is not accompanied by, and does not result from, a lower density of primary follicles. There does not appear to be any marked relation between the decreasing density of primary follicles after 90 days of foetal age and the initiation of secondary follicle anlagen. This fact, and the absence of any differences in the number of secondary anlagen formed per primary follicle in N-types, suggest that crowding in N-types is not a limiting factor in the formation of secondary follicle anlagen.


1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Stephenson

The development of the follicle population in New Zealand Romney and N-type sheep foetuses has been studied by comparing stages of development at different ages, using the method developed by Carter and Hardy (1947) and Hardy and Lyne (1956). Their scale has been altered so as to give a linear relationship with age, and a regression line has been fitted to the data by the method of least squares. Analysis of the N-type and New Zealand Romney mating groups and a comparison with the Merino data given by Carter and Hardy (1947) show that no marked or consistent differences occur in the age at which different stages of follicle development are completed or in the rate of development of the follicle population. Studies of different positions on the body agree with the findings of other workers that development begins first on the head and limbs and later over the trunk. Between positions the correlation between the age at which follicle development begins and the rate of development after initiation is not significant.


1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Stephenson

The diameters of the primary and secondary follicles hare been measured in N type and New Zealand Romney foetuses. It is shown that the primary effect of the N gene is on the primary follicle papilla and fibre size, not on overall follicle size A secondary pleiotropic effect is on the primary follicles, which Increase in diameter as a result of growing large fibres There do not appear to be any other effects of the dominant N gene up to 126 days after conception, either on the follicle population or on the growth of the foetus.


1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Stephenson

Growth, and the relative growth gradients over the body, have been studied in N-type and normal Kew Zealand Romney foetuses. Body weights, and a series of linear measurements taken between different points over the body, have been obtained from a series of foetuses of known ages. Huxley's allometric growth ratios have been calculated from these measurements by using the least squares regression. There are no significant gromth differences between foetuses belonging to the different AT-genotypes of the New Zealand Ronmey. Foetuses belonging to the New Zealand Romney and some British breeds grow at a faster rate than South African Merino foetuses studied by Malan and Curson (1936a) and Cloete (1939). Relative growth gradients over the body are, in general, similar to those of other mammals, but the results do not support the theory of Cloete (1939), that the relative growth rate of a part of the body is solely a function of the age of the part.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Norris ◽  
N. I. Bower ◽  
W. J. M. Smith ◽  
G. R. Cam ◽  
A. Reverter

Low fibre diameter and high fleece weight are important determinants of the economic value of the Merino fleece. The combination of these traits is found in Merino sheep with high follicle densities resulting from a high secondary to primary follicle ratio. Morphological stages in the development of primary and secondary follicles of fetal sheep skin have been well described. We have used gene expression profiling of fetal skin to identify genes that may be important in controlling these follicle developmental processes. A combined ovine (2.3 K) and bovine (6.14 K) cDNA microarray of 2 fetal and 1 adult stage skin tissues was constructed to compare gene expression levels between fetal day 82, day 105, day 120 and adult sheep skin developmental stages. The transcript profile resulted in 238 differentially expressed array elements relative to the adult expression, which represented 132 unique genes. These clustered into 50 up- and 82 down-regulated genes and distinct gene ontologies including structural constituents, phosphate transport, signal transduction and organogenesis. Northern blot analysis of 2 selected genes, S100A7LI and TAGLN, validated the microarray results. This list of genes contains candidates of interest for further investigation into the molecular control of wool follicle development.


2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 748 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Toland Thompson ◽  
M. L. Hebart ◽  
N. M. Penno ◽  
P. I. Hynd

The development of the follicle population in Merino sheep skin was studied from 30 days pre-partum to 112 days post-partum in single- and twin-born Merino lambs. The total number of primary follicles estimated from primary follicle density and skin surface area did not change over this period, while secondary follicle number increased to Day 28 post-partum in singles and Day 56 post-partum in twins. Twins had 14% fewer total follicles than singletons (P < 0.001), largely reflecting a bodyweight (hence estimated skin surface area) difference of 10%, with little difference in total follicle density (P > 0.05). Immediately post-partum there was a 36% decrease (P < 0.0001) in the secondary to primary follicle ratio (S/P) of the twin lambs, while a small non-significant decrease (7%; P > 0.05) occurred in the single lambs. This attrition coincided with a surge in plasma cortisol concentration that commenced ~12 days before birth and persisted for 6–12 days post-partum. The surge in plasma cortisol concentration occurred in both single and twin lambs, commencing on Day 138 of gestation; however, the peak cortisol concentration and the period over which cortisol remained elevated was greater in twin lambs than in singletons (P < 0.001). This study confirms a previous finding of a perinatal reduction in S/P ratio in Merino sheep. The reduction was greater in twin lambs than in singletons but the follicles of twins recovered rapidly so that there was little difference in final S/P ratio between birth types after Day 30 post-partum. The postnatal follicle reduction followed the perinatal surge in plasma cortisol concentration and appeared to reflect the magnitude of the cortisol surge in that twins, which displayed a higher peak cortisol concentration, had a greater reduction in active follicles than singletons.


1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Hocking Edwards ◽  
M. J. Birtles ◽  
P. M. Harris ◽  
A. L. Parry ◽  
E. Paterson ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe pre-natal and post-natal development of wool follicles in sheep of five genotypes with contrasting wool types was examined to provide data on which to base studies of physiological factors affecting wool type via follicle development. This study was conducted following Autumn mating in 1992 at Palmerston North, New Zealand (40° S, 176° E). The rate and timing of follicle development in midside skin samples from Romney, Merino, Merino × Romney (M × R), Drysdale and Wiltshire foetuses and lambs collected at weekly intervals from days 76 to 143 of gestation and 1, 3, 7, 12 and 32 weeks after birth were examined.Primary (P) follicle density had a similar pattern of development in each of the genotypes, although the Merino had a significantly greater density of P follicles than the other genotypes. There was a difference in the rate of P follicle maturation between genotypes with the Drysdale, Wiltshire and M × R completing P follicle maturation before the other two genotypes. However, the majority of P follicles in all genotypes were producing fibres by 111 days of gestation. It was concluded that the small differences in the density and time of development of the P follicles could not cause the differences in wool type between genotypes.The pattern of development of the secondary (S) follicle population was examined by comparing S: P ratios. The initiation of S follicles began at similar ages in the five genotypes, but initiation was completed earlier in the Romney, Drysdale and Wiltshire than in the Merino and M × R, as indicated by a significant genotype by age interaction (P < 0·001). There was no difference between genotypes in S:P ratio from 90 to 104 days of gestation. The S:P ratio of the Romney, Drysdale and Wiltshire did not change significantly from 104 days of gestation until the end of the study, indicating that few S follicles were initiated in these genotypes after 104 days of gestation. The M × R data showed a significant increase in S:P ratio until 119 days of gestation and the Merino S:P ratio increased until 126 days of gestation.The period between days 90 and 125 of gestation was identified as being the critical period for the development of different follicle populations in Merino and non-Merino genotypes and it is this period which should be the focus for studies to determine physiological factors controlling secondary follicle development.


Author(s):  
Shirazu I. ◽  
Theophilus. A. Sackey ◽  
Elvis K. Tiburu ◽  
Mensah Y. B. ◽  
Forson A.

The relationship between body height and body weight has been described by using various terms. Notable among them is the body mass index, body surface area, body shape index and body surface index. In clinical setting the first descriptive parameter is the BMI scale, which provides information about whether an individual body weight is proportionate to the body height. Since the development of BMI, two other body parameters have been developed in an attempt to determine the relationship between body height and weight. These are the body surface area (BSA) and body surface index (BSI). Generally, these body parameters are described as clinical health indicators that described how healthy an individual body response to the other internal organs. The aim of the study is to discuss the use of BSI as a better clinical health indicator for preclinical assessment of body-organ/tissue relationship. Hence organ health condition as against other body composition. In addition the study is `also to determine the best body parameter the best predict other parameters for clinical application. The model parameters are presented as; modeled height and weight; modelled BSI and BSA, BSI and BMI and modeled BSA and BMI. The models are presented as clinical application software for comfortable working process and designed as GUI and CAD for use in clinical application.


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