Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the histomorphology and histochemistry of the abomasum in adult Bakerwali goats, nondescript goats (NDG), and nondescript sheep (NDS) of the Jammu region. Histological examination revealed that the abomasum consisted of tunica mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. Cardiac glands were simple branched tubular glands, fundic glands contained mucous neck, chief, parietal, and argentaffin cells, while pyloric glands were predominantly mucous and associated with deep gastric pits. Reticular fibers formed a characteristic network around the gastric glands, and lymphoid tissue was evident within the lamina propria. Histochemical studies demonstrated strong Periodic Acid–Schiff (PAS) positivity in the surface epithelium, gastric pits, and glandular cells, indicating the presence of neutral mucopolysaccharides. Acidic mucopolysaccharides were localized mainly in the infranuclear regions of glandular cells. Glycogen, proteins, and lipids showed variable distribution within different glandular regions, reflecting their secretory activity. The study provided baseline information on the normal microscopic architecture and chemical composition of the abomasum in indigenous small ruminants of the Jammu region. These findings may serve as valuable reference data for comparative anatomy, pathology, and gastrointestinal research in sheep and goats.