THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

A-39
IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF
ENDOCRINE CELLS IN THE LARGE INTESTINE OF
PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus bubalis L.)*
C. P. Maala, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Los Baños
E. F. Landicho, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
D. L. Dycheepuat, Student
This study was conducted to demonstrate by
immunocytochemistry the endocrine cells in the cecum,
colon, and rectum of the Philippine carabao (Bubalus bubalis
L.) Five types of cells were identified: serotoninimmunoreactive
cells, substance P-immunoreactive nerve
fibers and cells, chromogranin-immunoreactive cells, bovine
pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive (BPP) cells and
enteroglucagon-immunoreactive cells. A moderate number
of serotonin-immunoreactive cells (5-HT) were observed
in the colon and rectum. There were more substance Pimmunoreactive
nerve fibers and cells noted in the rectum
than in the cecum and colon. Chromograninimmunoreactive
cells were observed more often in the
colon than in the cecum and rectum. Only a few BPP
were demonstrated in the colon and rectum, and were
rarely observed in the cecum. Very few enteroglucagon
cells (glicentin) were identified. They were mostly seen in
the colon and only occasionally observed in the cecum
and rectum. Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), somatostatin,
motilin, neurotensin, secretin and gastrin secreting cells
were not demonstrated.
Keywords: endocrine cells, immunocytochemistry, large
intestine, Philippine carabao, Bubalus bubalis
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 34(1&2):
45-52, 1997).
A-40
PRESENCE OF ESOPHAGEAL GLANDS IN THE
PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus bubalis L.)*
C. P. Maala, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Los Baños
E. F. Landicho, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
J. A. R. Sotto, Student
In most domestic animals, glands under mucus membrane
are present at the junction of the pharynx and the esophagus;
these have not been reported in the carabao. The esophagus
is part of the digestive canal which conveys food from the
pharynx to the stomach. Examinations of specimens
collected at the tissue junction of pharynx and esophagus
16
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
revealed the presence of mucus-secreting glands in the
submucosal layer. The glands were partitioned into lobules
of varying sizes within a framework of well-developed
connective tissue rich in collagen fibers. The secretory
units of the glands contained glycoproteins and neutral
mucosubstances, mucin, and weakly acidic sulfated
mucosubtances, hyaluronic acids and sialomucins as
shown by their positive reactions to indicator stains. The
mucus secreted by the glands coats the food that enters
the esophagus, thus, protecting the mucosal lining of the
esophagus from mechanical irritation and drying.
Keywords: esophageal glands, Philippine carabao,
Bubalus bubalis
*The Philippine Agricultural Scientist, 85 (4): 376-378, 2002.
A-41
HISTOLOGY OF THE TESTIS AND EPIDIDYMIS OF
TWO YEARS OLD PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALOES
(Bubalus bubalis L.)*
C. P. Maala, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Los Baños
E. F. Landicho, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
L. C. Joaquin, Student
The histology of the testes and epididymis of two years old
Philippine water buffalo was described using various
histological stains. The testis was enclosed by a capsule
consisting of the visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis and
the tunica albuginea. The tunica albuginea was thick and
consisted of collagenous fibers and a few elastic fibers.
Deep to the tunica albuginea was a vascular layer showing
blood and lymphatic vessels. Majority of the seminiferous
tubules still lacked lumen. The germinal epithelium was
made up of sustentacular cells, spermatogonia and primary
spermatocytes. Spermatids were observed in tubules with
lumen. The interstitial tissue was poorly developed. It
consisted of a few interstitial cells, collagen fibers, fibroblast,
lymphocytes and blood and lymphatic vessels. The
epididymal duct was lined by a ciliated pseudostratified
columnar epithelium, composed of tall columnar and basal
cells. In addition, there were a few apical cells, clear cells
and intraepithelial lymphocytes. The stereocilia of the
principal columnar cells appeared taller and more numerous
in the head and body regions than in the tail region of the
epididymis. The lumen and the smooth muscle layer
appeared widest in the tail region. The study revealed that
based on morphology, the epididymis appeared more mature
than the testis. In as much as the majority of the seminiferous
still lacked lumen and the spermatogonic cells were made
up mostly of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, it