Neutral and acidic goblet cell concentrations in the small intestine of the unweaned pig

Concentrations of Alcian blue (AB+) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS+) staining goblet cells on small intestinal villi and in intestinal glands of unweaned pigs were determined. Samples from the distal duodenum, mid jejunum, and distal jejunum were taken from 7 pigs from each of 4 litters at ages 9, 18, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 days. The only concentration differences between litters were observed in the mid-jejunal villi AB+ staining goblet cells (p = 0.03) so that litter origin of piglets was basically nonexistent. Concentrations of goblet cells increased with age on the villous AB+ and PAS+ cells in the duodenum and in the mid jejunum (p less than 0.03). No other differences in goblet cell concentrations were observed.