Morphological Diversity of Various Divisions of the Rabbit Colon

집토끼 결장 각 부위의 구조에 대한 광학 및 주사전자현미경적 관찰

Structural differences in various divisions of the rabbit colon were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. For light microscopic study, various Portions of the colon from seven rabbits (2.5 kg body weight) were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Tissues for scanning electron microscopy were fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde and postfixed in 1% $OsO_4$, dehydrated to 100% alcohol, transfered to isoamilacetate and dried by the critical point method. Subsequently, specimens were coated with gold and viewed with a JSM-35C scanning electron microscope. The colon displays a morphological diversity along its proximo-distal axis. Five regions can be discerned based on the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. 1) The first segment immediately distal to the cecocolical junction possessing three teniae is approximately 5 cm ($4{\sim}6cm$) in length, and displays irregular folds of the mucosa oriented transversely similar to those of the cecum. 2) The second segment possessing three teniae is about 7 cm ($5{\sim}8cm$) in length, and is characterized by the papilla-like protrusions on the mucosal surface. 3) The third segment, possessing a single tenia is about 16 cm ($12{\sim}20cm$) in length, and also displays the papilla-like protrusions similar to the aforegoing segment. 4) Fusus coli, approximately 4 cm ($3{\sim}5cm$) in length, is free of teniae and exhibits longitudinal folds on the mucosal surface. These four portions together constitute the proximal colon. 5) The distal colon reaches a length of about 58 cm ($53{\sim}55cm$) and shows a pattern of surface irregularities with minor ridges on the mucosal folds.