A quantitative morphological study of skeletal muscle in castrated goats

The effects of castration on the morphological differences of the skeletal muscle were studied in male goats. The percent interfascicular area, fascicle size, percent fibre area, percent interfibre area, fibre cross-sectional area, fibre diameter and number of fibres per unit area were estimated for m. biceps femoris. Following castration (open method) there was a significant decrease in the number of muscle fibres per mm2, but the fascicular area, fibre area and fibre diameter were greater than those of entires (P less than 0.05). However, no such differences were observed in vasectomized goats.