Histological Architecture and Histochemistry of Caecum of Sheep (Ovis aries)

Abstract

The caecal tissues collected from five adult sheep were processed for light microscopy. The wall of the caecum consisted of four histological layers, tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. Tunica mucosa was characterized by presence of folds. The intestinal glands were simple branched tubular coiled type had predominance of acidic mucopolysaccharides. Lamina muscularis mucosae was of varying thickness and interrupted. The submucosa was consisted of irregular connective tissue having fine blood capillaries, isolated nerve bundles and had predominance of acidic mucopolysaccharides. Tunica muscularis had an inner circular and an outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscles. Histochemical studies presented that crypts of Lieberkuhn had predominance of acidic mucopolysaccharides.