Comparartive anatomical study on the stomach of adult Bakerwali goat and nondescript goats and sheep of Jammu region

Abstract

newlineThe present study was conducted on the stomach of adult Bakerwali goat, non-descript goats and non-descript sheep of Jammu region. The rumen was bag-like with mucosa studded with tongue-shaped to leaf-like ruminal papillae which were uniformly distributed in adult Bakerwali goat and non-descript goats whereas unevenly distributed in non-descript sheep. Ruminal pillars in adult Bakerwali goat and non-descript goats were studded with papillae but in non-descript sheep, pillars were devoid of papillae. Interior of reticulum had honeycomb-like appearance. Secondary and tertiary crests were prominent in non-descript sheep. Omasum was oval shaped organ containing numerous page-like structures known as omasal laminae. The 4th order laminae were more prominent in adult non-descript sheep. Abomasum presented longitudinal folds in fundus and thick ridges in pylorus. The total empty weight of rumen and abomasum was highest in adult Bakerwali goat whereas the total empty weight of reticulum was highest in non-descript goat. The total empty weight of omasum was highest in non-descript sheep. The caudal transverse pillar was thicker than cranial transverse and longitudinal pillars. The height and width of ruminal papillae was highest at cranial sac. Papillae density was highest at ventral sac. SEF was highest at cranial sac. In all the three species, the length and width of cellulae reticuli were greater towards greater curvature. Length, width and height of omasum were highest in adult Bakerwali goat. Number of omasal laminae was significantly higher in adult non-descript sheep. Number of abomasal folds was greater in adult Bakerwali goat, although the difference was non-significant. Histologically, forestomach was lined with keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Lamina muscularis mucosae was absent in rumen, confined to the primary reticular crest of reticulum and was distinct in omasum. Tunica muscularis had inner circular and outer longitudinal layer. In all the three species, length of ruminal papillae was highest at cranial sac. Length of primary reticular crest was highest in adult Bakerwali goat. Tunica mucosa of abomasum had cardiac, fundic and pyloric glands. Lamina epithelialis mucosae included gastric pits and was lined by simple columnar epithelium. Cardiac glands were simple straight branched tubular and presented mucous cells with few parietal cells. Fundic glands varied from simple straight tubular to branched tubular glands in Bakerwali goat and non-descript sheep. In non-descript goats, fundic glands were organized in distinct lobules. Mucous cells, chief cells, parietal cells with few argentaffin cells were present. Pyloric glands were simple, straight branched tubular glands which were composed of typical mucous acini with flat nuclei towards the base. Lamina muscularis mucosae was better developed in pyloric region. The histochemical distribution of neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides, basic proteins, glycogen and sudanophilic lipids was seen in different compartments of stomach. The study revealed that the distribution of these histochemical moieties did not vary among the three species. However, the reaction was variable in different compartments of stomach.