The Choledochoduodenal Junction in Sheep and Goat
The choledochoduodenal junction was studied in 15 sheep, 5 goats and 7 sheep fetuses by maceration technique, microdissection, and by microscopic examination. The bile duct extended from the junction of the hepatic and cystic ducts, entered the duodenum at the beginning of its descending part on the dorsomedial aspect, ran distally in the wall for about 1.5 cm and ended with an opening facing distally without raising a papilla. The average length of the bile duct was 8 cm; its structure along its course was also described.
Occurrence of an accessory pancreatic duct in the sheep.
An accessory pancreatic duct was studied in 10 Dorset male sheep (5 to 12 months old) and in 7 sheep fetuses (crown-rump length, 63 to 200 mm). The duct was present in 9 of the 10 adult sheep examined. It could not be seen grossly, but in serial sections, an accessory duct with some pancreatic tissue was seen to pass distally from the main pancreatic mass ahead of the bile duct, enter the wall of the duodenum at the beginning of its descending portion, pass distally in the submucosa for about 10 mm, and then approach the mucosa. The wall of the duct acquired tubular mucous glands and was supported by muscle bundles during its intramural course. The sections from the sheep fetuses confirmed the presence of a patent accessory duct until it united with the duodenal mucosa. In the adult, the accessory duct and the accompanying pancreatic tissue and glands appeared functional. It could not be determined how much of the pancreas may be drained by the accessory duct.
Assessment of some agro-technological parameters of cactus pear fruit ( Opuntia ficus-indica Mill . ) in Morocco cultivars
Cactaceae had always attracted attention by their strange shapes and important adaptability supporting extreme conditions. For this reasons, Fruit traits were measured on 13 cultivars growing in different locations in Morocco. Results show significant differences between the cultivars. The source of this variation was probably genetic without excluding the geographic effects. The Tamri, Berkan, Ait Baha cultivars showed small fruit dimensions and weight. In contrast, Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir were greater than 100 g by fruit. Sidi-Ifni M, Hoceima, Mohammedia and Nador, although larger, contained few seeds, about 200 seeds per fruit; while Tamri, Ait Baha, Safi, Meknes and Tafraout contained over than 230 seeds per fruit. High levels of juice about 62 ml/100 g pulp were obtained with Sidi-Ifni M, Nador, Mohammedia and Ben Guerir cultivars. Total sugars of the 13 cultivars were quite similar and pH was low in Tamri and close to neutrality in the rest of cultivars. Therefore, oil extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica seeds constituted 13.6% of the whole seed. Thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a relatively high degree of unsaturation, 83.32% and 16% for saturated fatty acid, with a linoleic acid content of 63.66% followed by oleic 18.34%, palmitic 12.84% and stearic acid 2.81%. Based on these results, O. ficus-indica seed oil appears to be a good potential source of edible oil for human and (or) animal consumption. Our investigation describes that Tamri and Tafraout cultivars are not really a commercial viable fruit due to low total soluble solids value and highest seeds number per fruit. Against Mohammedia, Sidi Ifni M and Nador cultivars proved to have the highest fruit weight, very good total soluble solids value and low number of seeds, these cultivars can therefore be planted for both fruit production and for harvesting of cladodes for animal feed.