Table 3 Effect of different metabolizable energy and protein levels on mammary gland histology of Sistani goats.

Alveoli Number

23.11 ± 0.54^a

23.00 ± 0.90^a

22.3 ± 3.17^a

25.10 ± 4.24^a

0.56

Epithelial Cell #

26.20 ± 4.64^b

29.0 ± 2.56^ab

27.0 ± 3.90^b

35.3 ± 8.70^a

0.07

Tissue area, µm²

 Alveoli area, µm²

274.5 ± 3.30^b

278.3 ± 4.46^ab

272.3 ± 3.14^b

290.6 ± 74.71^a

0.07

 Epithelial Area², µm²

120.3 ± 5.90^b

125.1 ± 8.94^ab

123.1 ± 2.76^ab

135.5 ± 2.47 ^a

0.03

 Lumen area, µm²

153.2 ± 8.01^b

152.2 ± 6.33^ab

149.1 ± 0.41^b

155.1 ± 5.66 ^a

0.25

Tissue area, %

  Lumen, %

38.21 ± 2.51^a

40.56 ± 3.71^a

40.53 ± 2.80^a

41.44 ± 2.01^a

0.82

 Epithelial, %

31.36 ± 3.81^b

42.43 ± 1.23^a

39.95 ± 2.21^a

43.07 ± 1.49^a

0.01

 Stroma, %

30.43 ± 3.43^a

17.01 ± 1.91^b

22.64 ± 2.24^b

15.48 ± 2.09^b

0.01