the pattern of after birth secondary follicle development in markhoz goat breed

the follicle arrangement and secondary to primary follicle ratio (s/p) were studied in the ‎skin of nine male and nine female markhoz goats breed from one week to 16 weeks of age. the ‎skin samples were taken from mid-side area of each animal in nine stages every other week. the ‎follicles were arranged in groups, predominantly including three primary and several ‎secondary follicles. each primary follicle associated with sudoiferous gland, bilobed sebaceous ‎gland and erector pili muscle and each secondary follicle associated with only monolobed (and ‎some bilobed) sebaceous gland. the mean of s/p ratio was significantly different in different ‎stages (except stages six and seven) (p ? 0.05). the maximum s/p ratio was observed at 16 ‎weeks after birth. effect of sex and interaction of sex and age on s/p ratio was not significant ‎(p > 0.05).‎