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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Adv Vet Anim Res / Histological and histochemical characteristics of the esopha...
Journal of advanced veterinary and animal research2023; 10(1); 14-20; doi: 10.5455/javar.2023.j647

Histological and histochemical characteristics of the esophagus in local breed donkey (Equus asinus).

Abstract: Certain advantages of donkeys are still not listed as for other equine species. Moreover, donkeys lack comprehensive scientific studies. The present study examines the histological architecture and histochemical characteristics of the esophagus in the Iraqi local breed donkey (). Unassigned: Eight esophagus samples were collected from a local breed donkey. Tissue specimens (~1 cm) were collected from the cervical, thoracic, and abdominal regions of the esophagus and processed via routine histological technique. The tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Massons Trichrome, and combined Alcian blue (pH 2.5) plus PAS (AB-PAS). Unassigned: The esophagus of the local breed donkey had folded mucosa wrapped by thin non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The heights of epithelia of the cervical and thoracic regions of the esophagus were significantly higher than that of the abdominal regions. The lamina propria consisted of dense fibrous tissue that appeared thickest in the thoracic and abdominal regions of the esophagus. The muscularis mucosa disappears at the cervical region, while the thoracic and abdominal regions of the esophagus contain thick, scattered, interrupted bundles of smooth muscle fibers. Tunica submucosa was very thick at the thoracic and abdominal regions of the esophagus, composed of loose connective tissue filled with compound tubular mucoserous esophageal glands. Using a combined AB-PAS stain, mucous alveoli within the esophageal glands indicated strong acidic mucopolysaccharide. Tunica muscularis of the cervical and thoracic regions was built up by striated muscle fibers and turned into smooth type at the abdominal region of the esophagus. Unassigned: The esophagus of the local breed donkey shows considerable histological similarities with the other mammals that make this species reliable as an experimental model of digestive tissue.
Copyright: © Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-31 PubMed ID: 37155546PubMed Central: PMC10122940DOI: 10.5455/javar.2023.j647Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the structure and chemical properties of the esophagus in a local breed of Iraqi donkey.

Methodology

  • The study involved eight samples of esophagus from a local breed of donkey in Iraq.
  • The tissue samples, approximately 1 cm in size, were collected from the cervical, thoracic, and abdominal areas of the esophagus.
  • The samples were then analyzed using standard histological techniques.
  • Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s Trichrome and combined Alcian blue (pH 2.5) along with PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) were used to stain the tissue sections for better observation.

Findings

  • The researchers found that the local breed donkey’s esophagus has a folded mucosa, which is covered by a thin layer of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Keratin is a protein usually found in skin and hair but not commonly found in the esophagus.
  • The epithelia height in the cervical and thoracic regions of the esophagus were significantly taller than those in the abdominal region.
  • The lamina propria, a thin layer of connective tissue, consisted of dense fibrous tissue which was thickest in the thoracic and abdominal regions.
  • The muscularis mucosa, a thin layer of smooth muscle, disappeared in the cervical region, while it was thick and scattered in the thoracic and abdominal regions, with intermittent bundles of smooth muscle fibers.
  • The tunica submucosa, another layer of the esophagus, was very thick in the thoracic and abdominal regions and consisted of loose connective tissues filled with compound tubular mucoserous esophageal glands.
  • The researchers applied the combined AB-PAS stain, which indicated strong acidic mucopolysaccharide in the mucous alveoli within the esophageal glands.
  • The tunica muscularis, the muscle layer of the esophagus, was formed by striated muscle fibers in the cervical and thoracic regions and changed to smooth type muscle in the abdominal area.

Conclusion

  • The findings of this research suggest that the esophagus of the local breed donkey has significant histological similarities with other mammals, making this species a reliable model for studying digestive tissue.

Cite This Article

APA
Abood DA, Dawood MS, Mohammed LE, Karim AJ. (2023). Histological and histochemical characteristics of the esophagus in local breed donkey (Equus asinus). J Adv Vet Anim Res, 10(1), 14-20. https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2023.j647

Publication

Journal of advanced veterinary and animal research
ISSN: 2311-7710
NlmUniqueID: 101647585
Country: Bangladesh
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Pages: 14-20

Researcher Affiliations

Abood, Dhyaa A
  • Department of Anatomy & Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Dawood, Mohammed Sulaiman
  • Department of Anatomy & Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Mohammed, Lamees Ezldeen
  • Department of Anatomy & Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Karim, Abdulkarim Jafar
  • Department of Pathology & Poultry Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

Conflict of Interest Statement

No conflicts of interest are declared by the authors.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Ullah A, Khan MZ, Wang C. Overview of Donkey Welfare and Husbandry Practices in Asia. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 1;15(23).
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  2. Abood DA, Dawood MS. A comparative histological and histochemical features of esophagus at weaning and mature local breed cats (Felis catus). Open Vet J 2025 Sep;15(9):4432-4440.
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  3. Nourinezhad J, Abdi A, Moarabi A, Hanafi MG, Fatahin Dehkordi RA, Tomańska A. Assessing Salivary Ductal Structures of the Donkey (Equus asinus) Using Conventional Sialography and Its Practical Guide. Vet Med Int 2025;2025:9920803.
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