Histology and mucosubstances histochemistry of the duodenum in suckling, prepuberal and puberal zebus (Bos indicus).
The histological and morphometric changes as well as the mucosubstances histochemistry of the zebu duodenum were studied in suckling, prepuberal and puberal zebus. The morphometric data indicate that this organ reaches maturity at 13 months of age. The duodenal glands are simple or ramified tubular presenting cells of various morphological types. They secrete less sialomucin associated to neutral mucosubstances in the glandular body than at base and ducts. The goblet cells elaborate neutral mucosubstances and sialomucin. No qualitative changes in the secretion of the goblet cells and duodenal glands were found in the duodenum of zebus suggesting that the production of mucosubstances is not associated to age or feeding habits.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*