title: Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical study of the goat abomasum during prenatal development.
abstract: This study sought to chart the morphological changes taking place in the goat abomasum during prenatal development, using histomorphometric and immunohistochemical techniques. A total of 140 goat embryos and fetuses, from the first stages of prenatal life until birth. Differentiation of the abomasum as a separate compartment of the primitive gastric tube was observed at 35 days of prenatal life (CRL 3 cm, 23% gestation). Primitive abomasal folds were first observed at 38 days (CRL 4.3 cm, 25% gestation). The muscularis mucosae was visible by 64 days (CRL 13.5 cm, 43% gestation). Transformation of pseudostratified epithelium to simple cylindrical epithelium was also observed at this stage. Differentiation of gastric pits and glands first became apparent at 75 days (CRL 17.5 cm, 50% gestation) and 84 days (CRL 20 cm, 55% gestation), respectively. Neuroendocrine cells were detected by synaptophysin (SYP) at 64 days (CRL 13.5 cm, 43% gestation), while glial cell markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein - GFAP, and vimentin-VIM) were observed at 64 days (CRL 13.5 cm, 43% gestation) and 38 days (CRL 4.3 cm, 25% gestation), respectively. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were detected at 75 days (CRL 17.5 cm, 50% gestation). Gastrin-immunoreactive cells first appeared in the abomasum at 76 days (CRL 18 cm, 50% gestation). In conclusion, prenatal development of the abomasum appears to take place somewhat earlier in goats than in sheep or cattle, but at a similar rate to that reported in wild ruminants such as deer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazquez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Redondo
mesh_terms: D000018:Abomasum / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005333:Fetus; D006041:Goats / Q000196:embryology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry