The hair follicle density and seasonal shedding cycle of the muskox ( Ovibos moschatus)
Descriptions of muskox skin are limited despite the fact that its fine undercoat, commonly known as qiviut, is in increasing commercial use. Accordingly, skin biopsies from two bulls, two castrates, and one nonpregnant female were examined histologically at approximately 1-month intervals between 2....
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1989
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z89-164 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z89-164 |
| Summary: | Descriptions of muskox skin are limited despite the fact that its fine undercoat, commonly known as qiviut, is in increasing commercial use. Accordingly, skin biopsies from two bulls, two castrates, and one nonpregnant female were examined histologically at approximately 1-month intervals between 2.2 and 3.2 years of age. The biopsy sites were all 3 cm from the midline: one was in the midcervical region (the mane), another in the middle of the back (the saddle), and the third midway between the tuber coxae and the tuber ischii (the rump). Following surgical preparation, the biopsies were taken under local analgesia using a sharpened 4-mm stainless steel tube mounted in an electric drill. In addition, miscellaneous skin samples were collected from other sources. A regular pattern of follicles similar to that seen in the domestic sheep was hard to discern though primary follicles were readily identifiable by their size and their association with the duct of a sweat gland. For the three skin areas combined, the ratio of secondary to primary follicles (s/p ratio ± SEM) was 37.3 ± 1.8: 1, about twice that seen in the most improved breeds of sheep. The s/p ratio was slightly less on the saddle than on the neck and rump (P < 0.05). The mean follicle density was 42.8 ± 1.4/mm 2 , which is similar to that seen in the more highly selected sheep. The density on the neck was a little less than that in the saddle and rump (P < 0.05). Sebaceous glands and apocrine sweat glands are associated with primary follicles. Sebaceous glands are associated with some secondary follicles but sweat glands are not. About 100 sweat glands/cm 2 were present. |
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