Histomorpholofty of the Brunner's glands in the Angora rabbit

Abstract

The study was aimed to demonstrate the distribution, morphological and histochemical properties of BrunnerTs glands in the small intestine of the Angora rabbit. The duodenum of It) healthy animals of both sexes constituted the material of the study. The glands were composed of acini densely packed within the submucosa. The Brunner's glands contained two types of cells, namely, serous and mucous cells. Hi biochemical examination revealed that the mucous glands and secretory ducts did not react with the Periodic Acid-Schiff(PAS) stain, while serous glands were weakly PAS-positive. Furthermore, mucous glands reacted positively with alcian blue pH 2.5. When applied the combined aldehyde fuchsin-alcian blue pH 2.5. staining procedure, mucous glands were determined to be aldehyde fuchsin (-) and alcian blue (+). These results showed that while a limited amount of neutral carbohydrates was secreted in serous glands, the secretion of the ducts and mucous cells of the duodenal glands in the Angora rabbit was composed of acidic carbohydrates with this acidity being due to the presence of carboxyl groups. Males and females did not differ in the hisiochemical staining properties of the duodenal secretion. Electron microscopic examination revealed the cytoplasm of mucous gland cells to be filled with electron light secretion granules. Fewer electron dense granules were determined to be present among these electron light granules. The electron dense granules were found within the apical cytoplasm of serous glands. © Medwell Journals, 2010.