Histological studies into the ruminal mucosa of pygmy goats in relation to their age

Ruminal mucosae of 15 pygmy goats of different age (Z1 approximately 4-5 months, Z2 approximately 1 year, Z3 approximately 1.5-5 years) and sex were investigated histologically. The thickness of the Stratum corneum of the 3 experimental groups was in the Atrium ruminis 23.0, 23.0 and 29.1 microns, in the Recessus ruminis ventralis 22.8, 28.0 and 30.0 microns, that of the Stratum germinativum and Stratum granulosum in the Atrium ruminis 74.8, 78.4 and 82.3 microns and in the Recessus ruminis ventralis 87.4, 84.7 and 87.7 microns, that of the Corpus papillare in the Atrium ruminis 75.3, 75.2 and 74.4 and in the Recessus ruminis ventralis 85.0, 78.9 and 71.6 microns. The cell nuclear volumes of the basal and parabasal cells of papillae originating from the Atrium ruminis (a) and the Recessus ruminis ventralis (b) in the individual experimental groups were in case of a 103.2; 100.2 and 117.3 microns3 resp. in case of b 93.4; 96.4 and 119.7 microns3.