Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
629
AMORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LIVER AND
PANCREAS OF SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE (Herpestes Javanicus)
Adel J. Hussein* , Haifa A. Hussein*, Hasham Khirullah Abdulzahra**
Department of Anatomy and Histology ,College of Veterinary Medicine,University of Basra . Iraq
General Directorate of Education in Basra.Basrah,Iraq.
Key Words : liver , pancreas,small Indian mongoose.
Corresponding author: dradeljabbar@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to identify the morphological description and histological structure
of liver and pancreas in mongoose . Six adult males mongoose from Al-Basra province were used in
this study and were transferred to the anatomy branch of veterinary medicine, and were sacrificed for
collecting the livers , pancreas and fixation 10% formalin. The morphological study revealed that the
liver in adult mongoose was located in cranial part of abdominal cavity , caudal and ventrally to the
heart and was associated with stomach .the mongoose's liver is composed of six chief lobes.
Histological examination result revealed that the liver consist of several lobules separated from each
other by trabeculae of connective tissue extend from the basic unit of the parenchyma of liver is
hepatocyte which arranged in plates or cords like that radiated around the central vein and between
these cords there is sinusoids lined by a layer of fenestrated endothelial cells and Kupffer's cells .in the
boundary of each lobule showed portal area which consist of hepatic artery : hepatic vein and bile duct
lining by cuboidal cells .
The result appeared that the pancreas in adult mongoose is roughly U in shape, it has yellow pale
color and lies rather to the dorsal side of the duodenum, between it and the stomach . it has divided into
three parts, the right lobe, body, and left lobe . the pancreas is composed exocrine and endocrine tissues.
The exocrine portion consists of clusters of pyramidal cells, which are mostly organized in acini. the
cells have a dark basophilic cytoplasm, distinct basal nuclei, and many large eosinophilic zymogen
granules containing enzymes ,Trypsinogen and Chymotrypsinogen responsible for the digestion of
proteins, carbohydrates, fats and nucleotides. The endocrine portion of the pancreas consist of small
clusters of glandular epithelial cells called pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans). However , the lack
of studies in Iraq on this type, so this study came to provide us with information on the major glands of
the digestive system.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
630
INTRODUCTION
The small Indian mongoose, ( Herpestes javanicus) is small carnivores occupying various regions from
Africa to Southeast Asia particularly India, Pakistan, South of Iran and Iraq (1). The genus Herpestes
contains 10 species (2) and is considered the oldest genus within the carnivores, dating back
approximately 30 million years (3). According to IUCN Red list 2012 status they are listed as Least
Concern mammals (4,5,6).
This carnivore mammal preys on rodents, snakes, birds’ eggs and hatchlings, lizards and variety of
invertebrates (4). The small Indian mongoose is one of the few animals that can survive a cobra attack,
which makes it one of the deadly snake’s few predators.
The digestive tract represents a functional link between foraging activity and energy conservation
through energy allocation for various activities (7, 8). Over the last decades, field observations and
experimental laboratory studies have shown that the anatomy and physiology of the digestive tract of
many species are flexible, and can change in response to variation in environmental conditions (9). The
liver and pancreas are major secretory structures that lie across the stomach and duodenum and are
derived from the embryonic gut . The liver is the largest of the digestive glands, serving as a nutrient
storage organ and producer of bile (10). The bile drains from the liver into the gallbladder and then
moves via the bile duct into the duodenum, where it assists in the breakdown of food .the liver is
situated in the epigastric region, between both costal arches, reaching the level of the right 7th and left
9th ribs. Liver is a large, lobed gland. Each lobe is covered by a mesothelium, beneath which is a thin
connective tissue layer, the capsule. Each lobe is divided into numerous classic lobules. The lobules
consist of sinusoids and of plates of parenchyma cells, hepatocytes, radially organized about a central
vein. The anatomy and histology of the liver was studied in dogs , cats and pigs , ruminants and horses (
11 ,12 ) .
The pancreas is part of the gastrointestinal system that makes and secretes digestive enzymes into the
intestine, also an endocrine organ that makes and secretes hormones into the blood to control energy
metabolism and storage throughout the body. The pancreas lies in the upper abdomen behind the
stomach, it is composed of exocrine digestive gland and endocrine cell islets (13).
The exocrine pancreas composed of two epithelial cell types, acinar and ductal epithelial
cells. The acinar epithelial cells make up the major portion of the pancreas, and the ductal system is
composed of centroacinar cells, followed by the intercalated, intralobular, interlobular, and main ducts4.
The endocrine cells form islets of Langerhans, and extra insular endocrine cells are scattered randomly
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
631
as single cells or as clusters composed of two to five cells in the components of exocrine gland tissue
(10).
However , the lack of studies in Iraq on this type, so this study came to provide us with information on
the major glands of the digestive system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six adult males mongoose were collected from Al-Basra province. The animals are classified
according to the field guide of wild mammals of Iraq (14 ). All animals were sacrificed for collecting the
livers, pancreas and fixation 10% formalin for morphological ,histological and histochemical study.
After that the specimens were dehydrated in different grades of alcohol, cleared in xylene and embedded
in paraffin wax (15). Sections were cut at 5-6 μm thickness by microtome and stained with
haematoxylene and eosin , Masson's Trichrome and Van Gieson's (16 ) . Sections were observed with
an Olympus microscope and were photographed with a digital camera mounted to a microscope .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1-Morphological study:
Results of gross anatomy figure (1) A- revealed that the liver in adult mongoose located in cranial part
of abdominal cavity behind the diaphragm , it located caudally and ventrally to the heart and was
associated with the stomach, it has red-brown to dark brown color. The visceral surface was concave
and there was an area, which outlined porta hepatis. The mongoose liver touched the left and right
abdominal walls and its parietal surface was in close contact with diaphragm. The lesser curvature of
stomach was covered by this organ. It lies directly behind the diaphragm ( the muscle that aids in
breathing and separates the chest from the abdomen ) and directly in front of stomach . Like the
assertion of these authors about dog and cat liver localization we confirmed that this organ in the
mongoose was in close contact with the same organs and structures, described in the dog and cat (11).
The adult mongoose liver was lobated organ , composed of six lobes . The left and right hepatic lobe
was divided in lateral and medial parts . the right medial lobe was the largest and rectangular in outline.
The left lateral lobe was second in size and was somewhat tongue shaped . but the left medial lobe was a
small and prismatic . The quadrate lobe was a small structure, and the gall bladder fossa was a marker
for its position. Caudate lobe had deep impression of right kidney Figure( 1) B, C . these results are
similar to liver's dogs and cats ( 11) . Contrary to (17 ,18) about the liver of New Zealand rabbit and
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
632
rat consists of five lobes .The left hepatic lobe was divided in lateral and medial parts, while the right
lobe was single.
Results of gross anatomy figure ( 1 ) D- revealed that the pancreas in adult mongoose located in the
dorsal part of the duodenum , caudal to the liver, is roughly U shape , it has yellow pale color, and
divided into three parts ,the right lob, body, and left lob. The right lob lies near the duodenum and the
left lob extends to the hilum of the spleen. These results are. similar to these observed in dogs and cats
(11) ( 19).
Histological study:
Result of the present study figure (2)A,B- showed that liver in mongoose was consist of numerous
lobules separated from each other by thin layer of connective tissue which is continuous from thin liver
tissue capsule, this observed was agreed with (20,21,22 ) . The parenchyma of the liver lobule is
composed of epithelial polyhydral cell called hepatocyte arranged in branching barriers (cords, like)
hexagonal shape and this barriers are separated by blood sinusoid and arranged in radiation form around
central vein , the result was agreed with (23 )in the pig but liver pig is the typical form and ideal for
hexagonal forms of the lobules where the capsule surrounding the organ, the barriers you penetrate are
enough to show the regular hexagonal shape as well not (24) is identical in the mammals where it is
found that the capsule penetrates the organ and divides it to lobules by barriers. The hepatocytes in
each barriers of liver mongoose are polyhedral in shape with central nucleus and this result similar to
these observed with (25 ). The sinusoids are large and irregular in shape and it lining with two type of
cells stellate cells called (Kuepfer's or hepatic macrophage cells and flattened endothelial cells) figure (
2)C, this observed was agreed with (26). In this study showed between the liver lobules the portal area
consist of , branch of portal vein and branch of the hepatic artery and bile duct which lining with one
layer of cuboidal cells resting on basal lamina figure (6 ), and this observed was agreed with (26 , 27)
The histochemical study revealed the strong positive reaction for Masson's Trichrome stain when appear
red color in cytoplasm of hepatocyte and anther parts of liver tissue , the collagen showed positive
reaction with Masson's Trichrome stain that take a blue color black nucleus cells figure ( 3 )A,B with
Van Gieson's stain collagen fiber was stained red in color, while nucleus of the different cells appear
blue to black color figure ( 3 )C,D .
Results of the present study figure (4 )A,B,C- showed that the pancreas is a lobulated, branched, acinar
gland. It is consists of numerous tubuloacinar secretory units, which form the exocrine component of the
organ. Clusters of epithelial cells are grouped into acini and are pyramidal in shape, with basal nuclei
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
633
and numerous secretory (zymogen) granules, containing the digestive enzymes , Trypsinogen
and Chymotrypsinogen . Tubuloacinar units drain into long, narrow intercalated ducts, which are lined
with low cuboidal cells. Intercalated ducts communicate directly with interlobular ducts. The exocrine
components comprise more than 95% of the pancreatic mass. the endocrine islets of Langerhans
(pancreatic islets), are rounded structures of varying sizes but always larger than acini .The distribution
pattern of islet cells are different, β-cells are distributed in all parts of the islet, and α-cells are scattered
in the center or periphery of the islet against the background of β-cells regardless of the size of the islet .
Fewer δ-cells are scattered in the center or periphery of the islet. Islets comprise 1-2% of pancreatic
mass. these results agree with several previous results in dogs ( 11 , 28, 29 ).
Figure ( 1) : The liver and pancreas of mongoose . A- the position and relationship of liver of
mongoose in abdominal cavity:- (a) liver (b) gall bladder (c) heart (d) stomach. B- parietal surface of
the liver of mongoose. (a) right medial lobe (b) left medial lobe (c) quadrate lobe (d) gall bladder. Cveseral
surface of liver mongoose. (a) left medial lobe (b) right medial lobe (c) right lateral lobe (d)
caudate lobe( tow processes). (e) pancreas . D- parts of pancreas(a)left lobe (b) body (c) right lobe.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
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Figure (2) :- Cross section in liver showing A- (a) hepatocyte (b) sinusoid (c) central
vein (d) kupffer's cell( H & E stain 10 X). B- (a) capsule (b) hepatocyte(c) sinusoid(
H & E stain 40 X) . C- (a) hepatic portal vein (b) cord hepatocyte (c) hepatic portal
artery (d) bile duct ( H & E stain 10 X) .
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
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Figure (3) :- Cross section in liver showing A- (a) collagen fiber around central vein (b)collagen Fiber
in capsule (Masson's Trichrome stain) 10 X. B- (a) collagen fiber in capsule (b) nucleus of hepatocyte
black color (Masson's Trichrome stain) 40 X. C- (a) collagen fiber in capsule (b) collagen fiber around
central vein (Van Geison's stain) 10 X D- (a) collagen fiber in capsule (b) nucleus of hepatocyte blue
color (Van Geison's stain) 40 X.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
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Figure (4) :- Cross section in pancreas showing A- (a) pancreatic islets (b) acini (c) inter
calated duct (d) inter lobular duct( H & E stain 10x). B- (a) acini (b) inter lobular duct( H
& E stain 40 X). C- islets cell (a)beta cell (b) alpha cell (H&E stain 40X).
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
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