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      A comparative histochemical study of the distribution of mucins in the gastrointestinal tracts of three insectivorous mammals.

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          Abstract

          The distribution of mucous secreting goblet cells was examined in the gastrointestinal tracts of three insectivores namely: Acomys spinosissimus (Southern African spiny mouse), Crocidura cyanea (Reddish gray musk shrew) and Amblysomus hottentotus (Hottentot golden mole) in order to improve our understanding of the quality and composition of the protective intestinal biofilm. Intestinal tracts were fixed and processed to wax for histology. Serial transverse sections were stained using alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff, alcian blue-aldehyde fuchsin and alcian blue-high iron diamine techniques. Photomicrographs of the stained sections were analyzed by quantifying the number of goblet cells containing mucins per mm(2) in the surface epithelial or crypt areas. Neutral mucins predominated in the gastric epithelium of all three insectivores, while sialomucins were absent in the stomach of C. cyanea. In all three species, goblet cells producing a mixture of neutral and acid mucins were most abundant throughout the intestinal tract as were cells secreting a mixture of sulfomucins and sialomucins. However, differences between the insectivore species were observed in the qualitative expression and distribution of mucins throughout the intestinal tract. Similarities between the insectivores of this study and other distantly related species suggest that mixed mucin goblet cells are essential for the formation of the biofilm, irrespective of their diet or taxonomy.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Acta Histochem.
          Acta histochemica
          1618-0372
          0065-1281
          Jul 2013
          : 115
          : 6
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
          Article
          S0065-1281(12)00178-X
          10.1016/j.acthis.2012.12.003
          23313440
          cf7e9723-7a58-4692-bc33-aed918d757f7
          Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
          History

          Gastrointestinal tract,Histochemistry,Insectivores,Mucins

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