Ontogenetic Distribution of Histochemical Constituents in Jejunum of Goats (Capra hircus)

A study was conducted to investigate the distribution of various histochemical constituents in the jejunum of goats. Thirty-six goat embryos or foeti were collected from local slaughterhouse, Mathura, Veterinary Clinical Complex and University Livestock Farm, Mathura. The embryos or foeti were divided into three groups viz., Gr-I (0-50 days), Gr-II (51-100 days) and Gr-III (101-till term), with 12 foeti in each. The tissue sections of jejunum were subjected to Periodic Acid Schiff's stain (PAS) for detection of neutral polysaccharides, Muller's colloidal (hydrous) ferric oxide for acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPs), Acetone Sudan Black-B method for bound lipids, Gomori method for alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase enzymes and Feulgen's reaction for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All histochemical reactions were mild in Gr-I, mild to moderate in Gr-II and moderate to intense in Gr-III. Luminal border of the epithelial cells had mild to moderate reactions for PAS and AMP in Gr-II and relatively intense reactions in Gr-III. Intense alkaline phosphatase activity was noticed in the luminal border of cells; however, acid phosphatase enzyme activity was weak to mild in the jejunum. It can be concluded that the histochemical localization was almost identical to adults before birth, and the jejunum was prepared for its function before birth.