Role of oesophageal glands in the digestive physiology of two rumen amphistomesOrthocoelium scoliocoeliumandParamphistomum cervi

Abstract

AbstractHistochemical techniques have been used to study the chemical composition of the oesophageal gland secretions ofOrthocoelium scoliocoeliumandParamphistomum cervi. Results suggest that the secretions contain numerous enzymes, e.g., non-specific alkaline and acid phosphatases, ATPase, TPPase, esterase (Cathepsin C like), β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. The role of these enzymes in the digestion of food in these amphistomes is discussed.On the basis of histological and histochemical studies the caecal epithelium of the two amphistomes has been found to be syncytial bearing regularly arranged numerous, long but equal-sized and closely packed cylindrical microvilli. The role of various hydrolytic enzymes in well fed and starved flukes in relation to their gastrodermis and microvilli has also been discussed.