The Macro-anatomy of the Stomach of Wild African Giant Pouched Rat ( Cricetomys gambianus )

The segments of the vertebrate digestive system demonstrate a wide range of structural and functional variations which is adapted to suit the dietary requirements of the particular species. African giant pouched rat (AGPR) is an omnivorous rodent. The animals were anaesthetized using gaseous chloroform and the stomach harvested through the ventral midline incision after the animals had been sacrificed. The morphometric analysis and gross anatomical observations revealed that the mean body and stomach weights of the AGPR were 1045.5 ± 110.6 g and 28.81 ± 0.93 g respectively. The stomach of the AGPR accounted for 3 % of the body weight. Grossly; the stomach of the AGPR was divided into two parts: the non-glandular and the glandular parts. The stomach mean length was 20.51 ± 0.81 cm, while the glandular and non- glandular regions were 6.21 ± 0.73 cm and 13.26 ± 0.59 cm respectively. The glandular stomach constituted of the following regions: cardiac, fundic, pyloric and a gastric pouchlike diverticulum. The non-glandular part was in a form of coma- shape, with blind sac-like end. The non-glandular mucosa was observed to be brownish in color and presented with numerous soft towel–like papillae or projections. A groove that covered few millimeters (5mm) besides the opening of the esophagus on the right was  demarcated by a raised fold of limiting ridge or membrane. The proventricular mucosa was brownish in color. Based on the internal and external structural arrangement, we are classifying the stomach of the AGPR as a simple monogastric.