THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GASTRIC GLANDS OF THE CAT (FELIS-SILVESTRIS CATUS)

There are five stages in the development of the cat's gastric glands: 1. During the stage of the indifferent epithelium from day 19 to day 2 4, the anlage of the stomach develops with all layers; 2. The stage of gland formation from day 24 to day 41 is the beginning of the gland b uds. They develop in connection with endocrine cells on day 34 into pr imitive oxyntic and primative mucous cells. The latter form the basis for all other cells, including the surface mucous cells; 3. During the stage of gland evagination from day 42 to 55, the anlagen are separat ed into primitive pits and tubules, while the cells continue to differ entiate and the first intermediate cells are seen; 4. The stage of gla nd branching from day 56 to birth is characterized by the formation of additional glands at the bottom of the pits which change the ordinary anlagen into branched glands. During this stage, the cardiac glands a re formed; 5. In the stage of gland maturation from birth to the 9th w eek, the peptic cells are formed and the glands start functioning. The oxyntic cells show carbonic-anhydrase activity and signs of acid secr etion, and, between the weeks 4 and 8, the peptic cells contain pepsin ogen, producing a negative reaction to PAS and a positive reaction to HID. Mucous cells and mucous neck cells produce PAS- and AB-positive m ucin.