Investigation of Connective Tissue Fibers in the Spleen of Sheep Fetuses (Second and Third Trimester)

The aim of this study was to reveal the development of connective tissue fibers in the spleen of sheep fetuses. For this purpose, two different study groups were formed, consisting of the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. In this study, a total of 12 sheep fetuses were used, with 6 fetuses in each group. The fetal spleen tissues were fixed in 10% formaldehyde. Subsequently, routine histological procedures were applied to the tissue samples. Tissue sections were stained using Gordon Sweet's silver staining method to identify reticular fibers, Masson's trichrome staining method to identify collagen fibers, and Verhoeff's Van Gieson staining method to identify elastic fibers. The collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers were observed in the capsules and trabeculae of the spleen of sheep fetuses in the second and third trimesters. The collagen fibers were long and wavy, while the elastic fibers were short and wavy in structure. The reticulum fibers formed networks by anastomosing. Additionally, the elastic fibers were interwoven with collagen fibers, and the collagen, reticular, and elastic fibers were denser in the third trimester compared to the second trimester. In addition, reticular fibers were dominant in the spleens of sheep fetuses in both trimesters. As a result, collagen, reticular, and elastic fibers were observed in the spleens of sheep fetuses during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It was determined that with fetal development, the connective tissue fibers developed.