A histochemical study of the camel (Camelus bactrianus) duodenal glands

The complex carbohydrates in the camel duodenal glands were examined histoc hemically at light and electron microscopic levels. The duodenal glands of the camel were distributed in the submucosa 2 m caudal from the pylorus. Th ese were branched tubuloalveolar glands. The terminal portion of each lobul e was formed by only one type of mucous cell. The duodenal gland cells cont ained acidic and neutral carbohydrates. The mucous cells mainly contained s ulfate and carboxyl carbohydrate with sialic acid, and they also contained a few neutral carbohydrates with different saccharide residues such as mann ose, glucose, galactose, N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl galactosamine. T he results showed that the secretary granules of the duodenal glands in the camel contain mainly acidic carbohydrates. These findings seem to be the m orphological characteristics of the duodenal glands in the camel.