Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
683
MORPHO-HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF
ESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH IN SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE IN
BASRA (Herpestes javanicus)
Adel J. Hussein*, Sameera A. Da'aj* , Husham Kherala**
*Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah,
Basrah,Iraq
**Ministry of Education,basrah, Iraq.
Key words: Esophagus , Stomach ,Histology , small Indian mongoose
Corresponding author: adil.jabar@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological, histological, and
histochemical structures of the esophagus and stomach in small Indian mongoose at anatomy and
histology laboratory/ Veterinary Medicine College / Basra University in Basra/ Iraq. The current
study was conducted on six local healthy adult male mongoose directly . Morphological results
releaved that the esophagus is elastic muscular fibrous tube connects between pharynx and
stomach. It consists from three parts; cervical, thoracic, and short abdominal part.The stomach
appeared as simple type with shape of letter (J),and had three regions (cardiac, fundus, and
pyloric region), two curvatures, and two openings. The mean length and width of esophagus and
stomach (15cm, 0.5 cm) and (6.5 cm, 2cm cardiac, 1.5 cm fundus, and pyloric 1 cm in width)
respectively. The histological study result showed the esophagus and stomach comprised four
layers; mucosa, sub-mucosa, muscularis, and adventitia or serosa.
Microscopic examination of esophagus revealed that the mucosal layer lined with thin stratified
squamous keratinized epithelium tissue. The gastric mucosa lined by simple columnar epithelium
with goblet cells.
This study showed the positive reaction for periodic acid Schiff (PAS)stain in esophagus and
stomach , when appear red purple colour for mucin in the mucosa layer for them .
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
684
INTRODUCTION
The small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus are small, widespread carnivores occupying
various habitats from Africa to Southeast Asia (1).
The genus contain 10 species (2) and is considered the oldest genus within the order Carnivora.
Dating back approximately 30 million years (3).
The genus Herpestes is represented by two species : small indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus
; Geoffroy E 1818) and large Indian mongoose or the grey mongoose ( H.edwardsli;Geoffroy,
E1818)(4).
The small Indian mongoose is one of few animal that can survive a cobra attack, which makes it
one of deadly snake's few predators(5) .
As there is limited information about the anatomy and histology of digestive system of
mongoose .this will be a platform for better understanding of anatomy, pathology of diseases and
subsequent application in clinical examination (6) .the digestive tract of the mongoose is highly
consistent with the description ,It's characterized by same salient features including a wide acid
secreting region in the stomach. (7)
A morphology description of esophagus in mongoose is a collapsible muscular tube lying behind
the trachea .it extend from the laryngopharynx passes through the mediastinum, pierces the
diaphragm at the esophageal hiatus, and ends at the superior portion of the stomach (8),it is from
carnivorous (Simple) type with J shape have a concave lateral surface was the greater curvature
and the smaller concave medial surface is the lesser curvature.(9).
The cardiac and body regions of stomach merged smoothly and capable of great expansion while
the cylindrical and thicker walled pyloric part is less able to enlarge . The fundus projects
dorsally to the left of the cardiac against the liver . The type of mucosa depend on function of
this organs (10).
Function of esophagus is carrying the food from the pharynx to the stomach , its function is
storage of ingested food, mechanical break down of food, disruption of chemical bonds of food
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
685
through the action of acid and enzyme and production of the intrinsic factor require for vitamin
B12 absorbtion from the small intestine.
General histological structure of esophagus and stomach consist of four layers ;the mucosa
layer,submucusa layer , muscularis and adventitia or serosa(11).
The aim of the study is to identify the morphological and histological structure of the esophagus
and stomach in small indian Mongoose because the studies in this field is rare especially in Iraq,
because it's classified as wild mammals and this study consider for first time in Iraq.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of (six) adults male small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanieus) were collected from
AL_Basra province, the animals were classified according to the field guide of wild mammals of
Iraq(12), all animals were sacrificed by hunting . A representive samples were obtained from
esophagus and stomach for morphohistological and histochemical study. Samples were fixed by
10% buffered formalin solution . After 72 hrs. fixation, the specimens were washed with water to
carry out through routine histological procedure and passed during serial section (13).
Dehydrated in different grades of alcohol, cleared in xylene and embedded in paraffin wax,
section were cut at a 5-6 μm thickness by microtome. The stain used in this study was
Hematoxyline Eosin, Masson's Trichrom & PAS stains (14) the microscopic slides were
examined by a light microscope (Olympus BX) endowed with a digital camera.
Results & Discussion:-
-Morphological study
Results of the gross anatomy [fig.1] revealed that the esophagus is a collapsible muscular tube
lying behind the trachea . It extends from the laryngopharynx passes through the mediastinum
pierces the diaphragm at the esophageal hiatus and ends at the superior portion of the stomach
this result similar with to (15)
The esophagus consist of three part: 1-cervical esophagus 2-thoracic esophagus and short part
called abdominal esophagus.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
686
While the morphological result of stomach [Fig.1] revealed that it was the carnivore type.
Stomach as a portion of the alimentary, it's widest or most dilated segment, like (J) shaped
allowing for a considerable volume of food substances to be held while being broken down to
digestible components by gastric juice and persistal is for further absorption particularly with in
the intestines .
The stomach consists of three region:*cardiac region *fundic region and pyloric region It have
two curvatures greater and lesser Curvature and it have two surface parietal, visceral surface two
opening cardiac and pyloric opening.
the results showed the esophagus was straight tube with 15 cm length and width of esophagus
was about a 0.5cm.
This study appeared that the total length of stomach was 6.5 cm and circumference at cardiac,
fundus, pyloric region was 2cm , 1.5cm and 1cm this result correspond with ( 16 )
-Histological study:
Results of the present study[Fig.2] showed that esophagus has four layers: mucosa , submucosa,
muscularis & adventitia or serosa layer. the first mucosal layer consist of three layers they are:
lamina epithelial, lamina propria & muscularis mucosa. the lamina epithelial which was
stratified squamous thin keratized .the prominent epithelium is non keratinize in dog However
ruminants species and to a lesser extent horses possess keratinized epithelia (17)(18) .The
connective tissue beneath the epithelium that forms the lamina propria consists of numerous
tightly interwoven collagen and elastic fibers of relatively small size. Which in turn is lined by a
thin layer of smooth muscularis .The lamina muscularis consists of longitudinally oriented small
bundles of smooth muscles .The submucosa houses the seromucous gland of an extracellular
matrix that differs little from the lamina propria. These result similar with to (19) (20)
The muscularis layer is composed of two layers an inner circular bundle and an outer layer
longitudinal. the outer portion of the esophagus is covered by a tunica serosa for much of its
length especially the thoracic portion., where it is lined by the mediastinal pleural. Cranially the
tunica muscularis of the esophagus is covered by adventitia. The junction of the esophagus 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
687
the stomach is very close to the diaphragm and abdominal portion lacks a serosa. This result
similar to the ( 21 , 22 ).
Result of the present study[Fig.4] showed the four tunics in the esophagus occurred in the
stomach vary quite a bit in their development not only between species but also with different
areas of the stomach of same animal. The mucosa can be either entirely glandular. The stomach
is lined with simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells produce a layer of mucus protecting
the mucosal surface of the stomach. Gastric pits or shallow depressions are visible on the
mucosal surface. The wall of the gastric pits are formed mainly from goblet cells. Gastric gland
are composed of different cells depending on the stomach region. the lamina propria of the
stomach is continuous with that of the esophagus but it becomes a wide layer containing diffuse
lymphatic tissue and gland. The lamina propria is intended by shallow foveolae or gastric pit.
The muscularis mucosa is continuous from esophagus to stomach
Submucosa is contain many blood vessels are seen throughout the length of the submucosa .the
submucosa consist of loose connective tissue and nerves, blood vessels and lymph nodes
The muscularis layer consist of smooth muscle fiber only. The fourth layer of serosa consist of
loss connective tissue this observation agree with ( 23 )
The Histochemical study result: revealed that the esophagus [fig3] give a strong positive
reaction for Masson Trichrom stain when appear collagen fibers was stained blue in colour while
cytoplasm of epithelial cell appear red in colour , nucleous of cell appear blue to black colour .
while the periodic acid Schiff stain was positive stained for glycoprotin distribution in mucus
layer of esophagus.
The stomach result [fig.5] revealed the strong positive reaction for Masson trichrom Stain.the
collagen fiber showed that take blue colour . Periodic acid Schiff stained of stomach take
positive reaction when appear mucin rose to purple red colour in glandular mucosa layer.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
688
.
8
A B
Figure (1): The esophagus & stomach of mongeese. (A) the position & relationship of
esophagus in the Abdominal cavity.(B) parts of esophagus (cervical esophagus , thorasic &
short part of abdominal esophagus.(C): (a) cardiac region , (b) fundus or body, (c) pyloric (d)
Grater curvature (e) lesser curvature (D):internal stomach ,(a) glandular stomach , (b) folded
of stomach.
C
a
b
c
D
a
b
a
e
b
d
c
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
689
Figure (2) : Microphotograph of cross section in esophagus showing (A): (a) mucosa layers (thin
keratin sequamous tissue , lamina properia ,muscularis mucosa (b) submucosa muscularis (c)
muscularis layer H&E stain 10X. (B) mucosa layer H&E stain 40X (C) muscularis layer (a)inner
layer, (b) external layer H&E 40X
a b c
d
a
b
a
B
B C
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
690
Figure (3): Microphotograph of cross section in esophagus showing (A) (a) collagen fiber mucus
layer (b)submucosal layer(c)muscular layer (d)adventitia Masson's Trichrom 10X (B):
(a)collagen fiber in mucosa layer ,(b)submucusal layer Masson's Trichrom 40X . (C) positive
reaction of all fours layer of esophagus PAS stain 10X . (D) : glycogen in muscular layer in
esophagus PAS stain 40X.
a
b
c
d
A B
a
b
C D
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
691
Figure(4): Microphotograph of cross section in stomach showing (A): (a) mucus layer of
cardiac region H&E stain 10 X (B): (a) mucosa layer ,(b) submucusal ,(c) muscular & (d)
serosa H&E stain 10X (C) (a) glandular mucosa in fundus or body region (b) lamina properia
,(c) submucosa (d) smooth musclar layer H&E stain10X , (D): (a)submucosa , (b) muscular
layer H&E stain(40X).
b
c
d
a
a
b
a
a
A B
D C
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
692
Figure (5): Microphotograph of cross section in stomach showing : (A): (a)collagen fiber in
mucosa layer (b) sub mucosa Masson's Trichrom stain 10X ,(B) epithelium membrane Masson's
Trichrom stain 40X (C): (a) glandular mucosa (b) submucosa (c) inner muscular layer (d)
external muscular layer with Masson's Trichrom stain 10X , (D) : epithilium , glandular
mucosa.
A B
C D
a
b
c
d
a
b
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
693
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