Morphological characterization of gland cells of the glandular sac area inthe complex stomach of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The morphology of the gland cells in the glandular sac area of the Bactrian camel and the composition of secretory substances were examined by histoch emical methods. It was found that the gland cells of the glandular sac area were of the same type and size as those of the cardiac glands. The composi tion of secretory substances from the glandular sac area was the same as th at of secretory substances from the cardiac glands. Moreover, secretory sub stances from the gland cells of the glandular sac area contained a great de al of acid glycoconjugates, such as sialic acid? in addition to neutral sac charides (fucose, mannose, glucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamin, galactose and N- acetyl-galactosamin). Furthermore, immunohistochemical examination showed t hat progastricsin was present in the gland cells of the glandular sac area and the cardiac gland. In this study, histological analysis suggested that the stomach of the Bactrian camel is a single cavity stomach, formed as a r esult of multiple differentiation and growth of cardiac glands through the process of evolution.