Microarchitectural adaptations in the stomach of African tree pangolin

• Published in: International journal of morphology 2008-09, Vol.26 (3), p.701
• Main Authors: Ofusori, D.A, Caxton-Ma, Keji, S.T, Oluwayinka, P.O, Abayomi, T.A, Ajayi, S.A
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 0717-9367

The microarchitecture of the pangolin's stomach favouring the high chitinous diet has been less waived into, despite extensive morphological investigations. Histological analysis of the microanatomy will provide powerful tools for interpretation to yield reliable insights. We investigated this by fixing the tissues in 10% formol saline for histological analysis. Serial sections at 5 µm thickness were subjected to general staining methods for light microscopic study (Haematoxylin and eosin, Van Gieson's and Verhoeff's). The results revealed basic structural arrangements in their coats, with a modification of the epithelial lining of cardia and fundus into stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. These modifications were also reflected in the distribution of collagen and elastic fibers in the various layers (coats) of the stomach. The present study has shown that there was an adaptation of the stomach of African tree pangolin to its diet as reflected in the microarchitectural configuration. KEY WORDS: Stomach; Microarchitecture; Histological analysis; Diet; Coats. La microarquitectura del estomago de los pangolines que favorece la alta dieta de chitinous sido poco tomada en cuenta, a pesar de las amplias investigaciones morfologicas. El analisis histologico de la microanatomia proporcionara herramientas de gran importancia para la interpretacion, junto con dar una informacion confiable. Se investigo mediante la fijacion de los tejidos en solucion salina de formol al 10% para analisis histologico. Las serie de secciones fueron sometidos a metodos de tincion estandar para el estudio con microscopia de luz (hematoxilina y eosina, Van Gieson y Verhoeff's). Los resultados revelaron adaptaciones estructurales basicas en sus capas, con una modificacion del revestimiento epitelial del cardias y fundus en epitelio escamoso estratificado (queratinizado). Estas modificaciones tambien se reflejan en la distribucion de colageno y fibras elasticas en las diversas capas del estomago. El presente estudio ha demostrado que es una adaptacion del estomago a la dieta como se refleja en la configuracion de la microarquitectura. PALABRAS CLAVE: Estomago; Microarquitectura; Analisis histologico; Dieta; Capas.