THE COLONIC GROOVE IN Lagostomus maximus: A MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

TANO DE LA HOZ M.F.; FLAMINI, M. A.; DÍAZ A.O.

Chascomús

Congreso; XVI JORNADAS ANUALES DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE BIOLOGÍA; 2014

SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE BIOLOGÍA

The ascending colon of several herbivorous mammals has a longitudinal colonic groove, which is used as a route of retrograde transport of a mixture of bacteria and mucus. The objective of this work was to perform a morphological and histochemical study of the colonic groove of L. maximus. Sections of ascending colon were subjected to histological techniques and histochemical procedures for glycoconjugates (GCs) identification (PAS; KOH/PA*S, PA/Bh/KOH/PAS; KOH/PA*/Bh/PAS; AB pH 2.5, 1.0 and 0.5; AT pH 5.6 and 4.2). The groove originated close to the ileocecal junction and was extended along the mesenteric side of the ascending colon. The histochemical analysis revealed significant differences between the glycosylation pattern of goblet cells present on the groove and those existing on the rest of the colonic mucosa. The groove was rich in goblet cells containing a high proportion of carboxylated and sulfated GCs. The PA/Bh/KOH/PAS technique showed an abrupt change in the histochemical profile of the goblets cells, which presented a negative reaction in the groove and a strong positive reaction in the rest of the colonic mucosa. In the area of the colon possessing the ridges, the specific goblet cells glycosylation suggest that the mucus has a role in the functioning of the groove probably related to the high density of bacteria present in this region.