Histological architecture of the caudate nucleus in adult goat brain

Abstract

The present study was conducted to elucidate the microanatomical features of the caudate nucleus in the brain of the goat (Capra hircus). Six brains of apparently healthy adult goats of either sex were collected from local slaughter house in and around Namakkal. Tissue samples from the caudate nucleus were fixed in standard fixatives, processed, sectioned and stained using routine histological techniques. The caudate nucleus exhibited densely packed neuronal and glial cell populations with minimal intercellular spaces. Neurons were mostly triangular with prominent nuclei and distinct nucleoli. Three types of neurons namely small, medium and large neurons were identified, with large neurons being predominant. The ventricular surface was lined by ciliated cuboidal ependymal cells. Oligodendrocytes showed a characteristic “fried-egg” appearance. The study provides baseline histoarchitectural details useful for comparative neuroanatomical and neuropathological research.