COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE STOMACH MORPHOLOGY IN RABBIT AND CHINCHILLA

In recent years the use of rabbits and chinchillas as experimental model both in human and veterinary medicine and as pets is gaining ground detriment to the carnivores. Moreover, major human intervention in their diet, leading to the artificiality of a major part of the food, justifies the acquisition of specific morphological knowledge to each organ. Changing the composition of nutrients increases the risk of many digestive disorders, especially digestive organs themselves. The aim of this study is achieving morphological and topographic description of the first important component of post diaphragmatic digestive tract - the stomach. We used 10 rabbits and 10 chinchillas. The subjects were clinically healthy and of different weights and ages. Gross dissection was perform in all subjects. In both species the stomach is simple. The transition from the esophageal mucosa to the gastric mucosa is clearly marked. The gastro esophageal sphincter is very visible, placed in the middle of the small curvature. The distal esophageal mucosa has a serrated pattern, making a strong gastro esophageal sphincter. In rabbit, the stomach shows thin walls with well individualized cardia and pilor orifices. The fornix is visible, located dorsal of the cardia orifice. Before the pyloric opening a narrow segment is visible - the pyloric antrum (Antrum pyloricum). The pylorus is mostly compressed by the duodenum and the left lobe of the liver. The gastric mucosa presents itself as a glandular type on its entire surface. At chinchillas, the stomach is oriented transversally and lies mainly caudal to the rib cage, slightly left deviated. The angular notch is sharpest and the dorsal region of the stomach is at the same level with the pylorus. The gastric folds are much more obvious in the stomach body than in the juxtacardial region. Both in rabits and chinchillas, the stomach present numerous similarities regarding the topography, divisions, pattern and relationships with adjacent organs. Significant differences exist in the mucosa, and the presence of an individualized fornix and a well-developed pyloric antrum in rabbits, compared with chinchilla.