Progress of myelination in the spinal cord of foetal goat

Onset of myelination in the spinal cord in goat was studied using 52 foetuses. Oligodendrocytes became distinguishable by 40 days. By the third month of gestation, the tracts bordering the ventral median fissure showed clear presence of lipids indicating the onset of myelination. The oligodendrocytes started to curve around axons to form myelin sheath by 142 days showing that the fibre tracts of spinal cord became differentiated towards the end of gestation in goat. This study revealed that the fibre tracts of the spinal cord in goat became myelinated towards the end of gestation, to make the new-born kid well suited to be classified as a ‘mature’ young one.