Ultrastructural Study of Tracheo-Bronchial Epithelium of Indian Goats (Capra hircus)

The ultrastructure of trachea and bronchi was studied in Indian goats. The epithelium of trachea was comprised of ciliated, non-ciliated, brush and basal cells. Ciliated cells were columnar and contained numerous cilia, round and elongated mitochondria and many vacuoles. Non-ciliated cells or mucous cells were columnar with basal nucleus and had mitochondria and mucous granules of varying density. Brush cells were columnar with short microvilli, mucous granules, mitochondria, Golgi complex, granular and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Basal cells were arranged in two rows with few mitochondria, secretory vesicles and endoplasmic reticulum. Bronchial epithelium was lined with ciliated cells, mucous cells and basal cells similar to that of trachea however, ciliation was comparatively less.