The aim of this study was to investigate the histologic and histochemical characteristics of cervical epithelium of Akkaraman sheep. As a material. 22 cervices of ewes were used, which 10 of them were in follicular phase and 12 of them were luteal phase.

It was determined that Lamina epithelialis was simple columnar type and composed of secretory and ciliated celts. The epithelium was replaced by stratified vaginal epithelium in the caudal cervix. Any glandular structure was not observed except in seven cases. In these cases, besides the glanduler structures hyperplasic focuses and squamous metaplasia were found. It was estimated that this findings appeared due to phytooestrogens or elements which have estrogenic effects.

By means of histochemical methods, the cervical secret was found to be a mixture of acidic and neutral mucosubstances. The secretory material contained both neutral and acidic mucosubstance in lateral and apical parts of villi. But in crypts, carboxylated acidic mucosubstance was dominant. It was determined that carboxylated acidic mucosubstance increased especially in crypts in the follicular phase. Also it was shown that, acidic mucosubstance was dominant in the secretory material of glands.