Histomorphometric and histochemical study of skin in cape hare Lebus cabensis and domestic rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, comparative study

Objective: The purpose of this study was designed to describe and contrast the skin characteristics between hare and rabbit.Materials and Methods: Twelve skin samples from each animal were taken for the study as soon as they were killed. Seven samples were obtained from each of the following skin regions: the back, face, thigh, abdomen, perineum, and upper lip. The samples were then preserved in 10% formalin for a full day. Standard histology procedures were used to prepare the sections.Results: Sections of skin showed that the epidermis is a thin outer layer made up of four strata: Corneum, granulosum, spinosum, and basal. Each research animal's back and thigh skin had keratinized stratified squamous epithelium lining its epidermis, while other skin regions had non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. In every area of the skin, the hare's epidermis was thicker than the rabbit's. The hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands are all found in the dermis, which is divided into two layers: papillary and reticular. Compared to the hare's skin, the rabbit's dermis showed a higher thickness of reticular and papillary layers. The basic alveolar sebaceous glands were found in each research animal's little skin. There were several tubule-coiled sweat glands dispersed across the dermis. While hare skin had sweet glands in every area of the skin in this investigation, rabbit skin had none, with the exception of the upper lips. Periodic Acid-Schiff produced a positive result for sweat and sebaceous glands, however alcian blue alone produced a positive result for sebaceous glands.In conclusion: There were several differences in histological structure of skin, and variations in the thickness of skin between hare and rabbit.