Histochemical study of carbohydrates foundation in the gut of indigenous rabbits at different postnatal ages

This project aimed to evaluate the carbohydrate histochemical profile in the small intestine and colon of indigenous rabbits at different postnatal ages. To conduct such investigation, forty eight offspring at different postnatal ages (1, 10, 15 and 40 days of age) were collected and set equally into four groups. Specimens from the wall of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon were prepared for different histochemical staining techniques (PAS, Alcian blue, Aldehyde fuchsine and Toluidine blue). Microscopic findings revealed the presence of neutral and acidic mucin in the mucosal lining of the small intestine in all studied ages. The sulfated acidic mucin was abundant in kits and suckling puppies while in older rabbits, the non sulphated mucin was the dominant type. The reaction of Toluidine blue moderate in older studied ages indicating the presence of glycosaminoglycans especially in the ileum. In colon, the different reactions indicated dominant neutral mucin in newly born kits and suckling puppies, but in older studied ages, the mixed neutral and sulphated acidic mucin and glycosaminoglycans were present in the surface epithelium whereas the non sulphated acidic mucin was dominant in the crypts of Lieberkühn. It can be concluded that the quantities of sulphated acidic mucin as well as glycosaminoglycans were increased dominantly at last parts of intestine in 15 days aged preweaned rabbits. Because such developmental changes are required to parallel the fermentation process which start at this age in which the feed of animals included greenish type of food.