Histomorphology and Chemical Constituents of Interdigital Gland of Vembur Sheep, Ovis Aries

    November 2022 in “ Veterinary sciences ”
    Thangavel Rajagopal, S. Mahalakshmi, Thirukonda Ravindhran Gayathri, Naganathan Muruganantham, Marimuthu Muthukatturaja, Durairaj Rajesh, Karuna Rameshkumar, Ponnirul Ponmanickam, Mohammad Abdulkader Akbarsha, ‪Govindaraju Archunan
    TLDR The interdigital gland of Vembur sheep shows sex-based differences in size and chemical makeup, possibly affecting communication and disease protection.
    The study on the interdigital glands of 24 Vembur sheep (12 males and 12 females) revealed significant anatomical, morphological, and chemical differences between sexes. Males had larger glands with higher densities and larger diameters of apocrine and sebaceous lobules. Chemical analysis identified 23 major compounds, with some unique to each sex, such as butanoic acid and 1-heptanol in males, and octane and tetradecane in females. High concentrations of tetradecanol, tetradecanoic acid, and hexadecanol were found in both sexes, suggesting antimicrobial properties. These findings suggest the gland's secretions play roles in olfactory communication and protection against microbial infections. Further research is needed to confirm the antimicrobial effects of these compounds.
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