Development of the reticulum of fetuses and neonates in Korean native goats

한국재래산양의 태아 및 신생아의 제2위 발달에 관하여

The development of reticulum in fetuses between 60, 90, 120 days of gestation and neonates of Korean native goats was investigated by light, scanning electron microscopy. The results were summarized as follows; 1. In the 60-day-old fetuses, the stomach was developed and differentiated into four compartments of rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. The reticular epithelial layers were differentiated into two zones; a small dark basal and a large light luminar zones. The wall of reticulum resembled that of the rumen except that the mucosa was in the cranio-dorsal region of the reticulum. 2. In the 90-day-old fetuses, the light luminar zone of the reticulum was about 10-16 times thicker than the dark zone. The outlines of the reticular ribs were visible. 3. In the 120-day-old fetuses, the wall of the reticlum had also increased in thickness. The reticular mucosa exhibited an irregular luminar surface and the invaginations had differentiated into large regularly arranged ones separated by 3-5 and small irregularly arranged ones. 4. In the neonate, the luminar surface of the reticular mucosa demonstrated clear furrows, at which the superficial cells of the light zone had undergone degenerative changes. 5. Scanning electron microscopic studies; In the 60-day-old fetuse, numerous microvilli were observed on the superficial epithelial layer of shape or dome like at 120 days. In the neonate, the reticular papillae liked the little finger.