Morphological and Histochemical Study of Guinea Pig Duodenal Submucosal Glands

The duodenum is largely responsible for the breakdown of food in the small intestine, using enzymes. Duodenal submucosal glands, which in general produce a mucous secretion, exist in all mammalian species. These glands are located in the submucosa of the proximal duodenum. The study aimed to demonstrate the morphological and histochemical properties of duodenum and duodenal submucosal glands in the small intestine of the guinea pig. The duodenum of 10 adult healthy animals constituted the material of the study. After dissecting them, three parts of duodenum (cranial, descending and ascending parts) were determined. For histological studies, after tissue preparation, duodenal tissue layers and duodenal submucosal glands in tunica submucosa were measured using the micrometre method. All parameters between the three parts of duodenum were analysed and compared using the ANOVA test. We concluded that duodenal wall thickness was variable in the three parts. It decreased from the cranial (1306.81±132.80 μm) to the ascending part (1026.92±80.01 μm) and in the cranial part was very distinctive. Duodenal or Brunner’s glands were composed of only mucous acini densely packed within the submucosa. The glands were well developed in the cranial part of duodenum. There was a significant difference in the thickness of duodenal submucosal glands in all parts of the duodenum that decreased from the cranial to the ascending part (P<0.001) from 147.52±22.80 μm to 38.25±12.30 μm respectively. Histochemical examination revealed that the mucous glands reacted positively with Alcian blue pH 2.5 and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stains.