Cell morphology and epithelial reticulum development during prenatal and postnatal development of cattle

• Grant number: 17/04752-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Javier Hernandez Blazquez
• Grantee: Camila Dias de Aguiar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/50095-3 - Expression of proteins of cell communication and cell junctions in the digestive system of cattle fetuses, newborn calves and adult cattle, AP.TEM

Abstract

The cattle are of great importance worldwide due to their production of meat, milk and by-products. Brazil is the world's largest meat exporter, with most of the national economy linked to bovine farming. Bovine animals are included in the Ruminantia suborder, since they have a peculiar digestion process, that is, after a food intake, they regurgitates to the mouth, where a second mastication occurs and, subsequently, a swallowing. The ruminants present the stomach divided into 4 chambers, called rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum, each with its specific function. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the cellular morphology of the reticulum of bovine fetuses (ages about 110 and 150 days of development - about 240 mm and 370 mm in length, respectively), newborn calves and adults, focusing the reticular epithelium, basal cell layer and cellular morphometry, also evaluating the reticulum's development through the use of histological techniques and staining, such as Hematoxylin-Eosin and PAS. Based on this study, we can better understand how changes in the reticular mucosa are necessary for a functional activation of the reticulum and its preparation for weaning and solid diet. (AU)