Histological and histochemical study of large intestine in Camel (Camelus Dromedarius)

Abstract

Current study was performed to describe the Histohistological and histochemical structures of
the large intestine in Iraqi one humped camel (Camelus Dromedarius). Five healthy male
camels Approximately 3 to 4 years old were chosen and their specimens from cecum, colon and
rectum. The specimens were directly transferred after the animal’s slaughtering to the histology
lab at College of Veterinary Medicine for subsequent histological techniques. Tissue specimens
from various parts of the large intestine (cecum, colon and rectum) were collected and fixed with
10% neutral buffered formalin then subjected to routine tissue processing. Sections of 6
micrometers thickness were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for general
histology and Periodic Acid Schiff combine with Alcian blue (AB–PAS), Masson's trichrome as
well as Verhoeff stains for histochemical description. Microscopic findings revealed four tunicae
constructing the wall of cecum, colon and rectum mucosa, that were from the inner most mucosa,
submucosa, muscularis and the outer most either serosa or adventitia. The tunica mucosa
characterized by simple columnar epithelium rested on basement membrane and the presence of
muscularis mucosa which separated mucosa from the underneath submucosa. Crypts of
Lieberkühn and goblet cells were abundant in the colonic epithelium. The submucosa was made
up of irregular connective tissue rich with adipose tissue and was supplied well with many blood
vessels. Tunica muscularis in all over the three parts of large intestine was made up of inner
circular smooth muscle fibers and outer longitudinal smooth muscle fibers. The tunica serosa,
and in parts replaced by adventitia, was made up of loose connective tissues.