Composition of abomasal mucins in hair goats.

The mucosal epithelium of the digestive tract is covered by a layer of mucusthat protects against chemical, enzymatic and mechanical damage, and pathogenic microorganisms. We investigated the composition of the mucin in the abomasum of goat kids using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. We used 6 - 8-month-old goat kids; samples were collected from the cardia, fundus and pylorus regions of the abomasum. Alcian blue (pH.2.5)-PAS, Alcian blue (pH.2.5)-aldehyde fuchsin, phenylhydrazine-PAS histochemical staining methods were used as well as Muc1, Muc2, Muc5ac and Muc6 immunohistochemistry. We found that neutral mucins, carboxylic mucins and N-acetyl sialomucins were present in the stomachs of the kids. Muc1 was expressed in all glandular epithelium cells and was expressed intensely by the mucous neck cells in the fundus. Although Muc2 expression was not observed in the cardia and fundus, weak expression was found in the surface epithelial cells and mucus secreting cells of the pylorus. Muc5ac was expressed intensely in all glandular epithelial cells and in mucous neck cells of the fundus as well as mucus secreting cells in the pylorus. Moderately intense Muc6 expression also was found in the cardia and fundus; it was expressed intensely in the mucus secreting cells of the pylorus.