Surface mucus in the non-glandular region of the equine stomach.
In horses, ulceration of the non-glandular region of the stomach is common and has been attributed to the lack of a protective mucus covering. This study aimed to determine whether the non-glandular region is covered by a mucus layer. A mixture of antibodies raised against human gastric mucin (MUC 5 AC) showed a tissue distribution in the glandular region of the equine stomach similar to that seen in humans. Dot blots of mucus from the glandular and non-glandular regions showed cross-reactivity with these antibodies. Various histological fixation and processing techniques were compared for their ability to preserve mucus in the non-glandular region. Fixing frozen sections on-slide for 20 seconds in 20 per cent formalin/1 per cent cetylpyridinium chloride was considered the best method. In conclusion, the equine stomach expresses a gene homologous to human MUC 5 AC. Its product is expressed as a neutral mucin, which is present in the mucus that covers both the glandular and non-glandular regions. Future comparison of mucus composition in the healthy and ulcerated stomach will improve our understanding of gastric ulceration in the horse.
Bullimore
S R
SR
Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Bristol, UK.
Corfield
A P
AP
Hicks
S J
SJ
Goodall
C
C
Carrington
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005752:Gastric Mucins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000276:immunology; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005752:Gastric Mucins; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins