Anatomy and histology of the stomach in a newborn pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)

概要

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The stomach of a newborn pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) was examined by means of gross anatomy and light microscopic histology. Numerous papillae were observed on the inner surface of the diverticulum and forestomach, and reddish, smooth, and moist lamina were apparent in the posterior stomach. Histological sections revealed a keratinized squamous epithelium covering the entire inner surface of the diverticulum and forestomach. In the posterior stomach, the epithelium and lamina propria were composed of many papillae. Specific gastric glands containing chief and parietal cells occupied the lamina propria in the posterior stomach, however, the cardiac and pyloric glandular regions could not be observed in any section. Although the sample material was excised from the carcass of a newborn, we can conclude that the diverticulum and forestomach are morphologically similar to the rumen, reticulum or omasum in ruminants, whereas the posterior stomach functionally accords with the abomasum. The diverticulum and the forestomach may act as a fermentation tank and dehydration apparatus, respectively, for stomach contents, and the posterior stomach may function as the secretion system for gastric juices.
日本哺乳類学会の論文
2001-06-01