A histologic and histomorphometric study of the first compartment of stomach in the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)

In this study, tissue samples from 2 glandular and 2 non-glandular regions of the stomach's first compartment (CI) were collected from 48 healthy dromedaries of 4 age groups; 1-4 years, 5-7 years, 8-11 years and 12-16 years. After fixing in 10% buffered formalin, the specimens were processed routinely, stained with H & E and their histology examined and the thickness of the different layers measured. The histological data were similar to those previously reported whilst the histomorphometric data revealed significant intergroup variation (p=0.001) in the thickness of all layers in the caudodorsal glandular sac and the cranioventral non-glandular sac of CI compartments. However, in the cranioventral glandular sac, the mucosal thickness was insignificant (p>0.05) and in the caudodorsal non-glandular sac the thicknesses of the mucosa, circular layer of the muscular layer and serosa were insignificant (p>0.05) in the different age groups. This study showed that the histological layers in the different regions of the first compartment of the dromedary stomach gradually increase in thickness with the animal's age.