Histological Structure of the Digestive Organs in Siamese Cobra (Naja kaouthia)

Abstract

The digestive organs of 8 Siamese cobras, were collected and processed by paraffin technique. The tis¬sues were cut 6 µm thickness and stained with H&E, PAS, Masson's trichrome and Taenzer Unnar Orcein method. The sections were observed under the light microscope. The digestive tube generally consisted of four layers: tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. The epithelial lining of the anterior part of the esophagus was pseudostratified ciliated columnar type with goblet cells whereas the posterior part was simple columnar epithelium without cilia and goblet cells. The stomach was divided into 2 regions, the fundic and pyloric region. Each region was covered with simple columnar cells. The fundic gland consisted of mucous neck cells and another cell type producing the gastric juice while the pyloric gland consisted of mucous cells only. The intestine had the longitudinal folds extended into the lumen and was lined by pseudostratitied columnar with striated border and goblet cells. The number of goblet cells was increased at the large intestine. The liver was unclearly divided into lobules. Liver cells were arranged in plates with two cells thick and consisted of pigments. The structure of gall bladder and pancreas, were generally similar to those of mammal.