Histological and histochemical detection for the gastric gland in neonatal dogs (Canis familiars)

Background: The fundamental histoarchitecture of the gastric glands in neonatal canines is critical for understanding the digestive physiology and its adaptation to their diet. Aim: This study was conducted to examine the histological and histochemical features of gastric gland to document the qualitative changes occurring at this age. Methods: Gastric tissue samples which were collected from six puppies, and sectioned into cardiac, fundic, and pyloric regions for standard histological processing Results: The analysis revealed a stomach wall comprising the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa, which was lined with simple columnar epithelium but lacked a stratum compactum. The gastric glands were universally branched and simple tubular, with the cardiac region dominated by mucous secretory cells, the fundic region characterised by oxyntic and peptic cells that increased slightly with age, and the pyloric region containing primarily mucous-secreting cells. Conclusion: The study concludes that these core histological characteristics in neonatal dogs are phylogenetically conserved and share significant similarity with those of other neonatal carnivores.