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Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 2 (10),
465-467, October 2007
ISSN 1992-2248
© 2007 Academic Journals
Short
Communication
Morphometric study of the stomach of
African pangolin (Manis tricuspis)
Ofusori,
D.A.1, 2*, Caxton-Martins, E.A.2, Adenowo, T.K.3,
Ojo, G.B.2, Falana, B.A.2, Komolafe, A.O.2,
Ayoka, A.O.4, Adeeyo, A.O.5 and Oluyemi, K.A.1
1Department
of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Igbinedion University,
Okada, P.M.B. 0006, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
2Department
of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria.
3Department
of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun-State, Nigeria.
4Department
of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria.
5Department
of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola
University, Ogbomosho, Oyo-State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E– mail
davidofus234@yahoo.com; +234-803-445-5715.
Accepted 8
October, 2007
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General sections of the mammalian gut are usually adapted to suit the
dietary requirements of the particular species. It is to be anticipated
therefore that pangolin, which has no teeth unlike some other mammals,
may have adopted a means of coping with her high chitinous diet, hence
the need for this study which is expected to reveal functional
implications of the different regions of the stomach. The animals were
sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the harvested stomach cut on a
regional basis that is (cardia, fundus, corpus and pylorus) and fixed in
10% formol saline for histological analysis. The stained sections were
subjected to morphometric analysis at a magnification of x40 using the
eye piece micrometer procedure. The results revealed that the corpus is
more metabolically active than the other parts as evidenced by its total
thickness (4422 ± 227.26 µ). This may be related to its active role in
the churning process. The cardia and fundus on the other hand are the
main recipients of the pressure initiated by the contraction of the
corpus leading to the exposure of the soft internal part of the ingested
arthropods. The pylorus on the other hand, performs its role of
propelling the chyme into the small intestine. It is therefore evident
that the parts of the stomach investigated are relevant to the high
chitinous diet.
Key words:
Stomach, diet, chitinous, functional, implication, pangolin. |
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