Research Article Open Access

Comparative Collagen Distribution in the Small Intestine of Eidolon Helvum and Manis Tricuspis

Adefolaju Gbenga Anthony1
  • 1 Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa

Abstract

The African tree pangolin has no teeth but consumes a highly tough and chitinous diet while the bat is frugivorous; this study was designed to compare the morphological adaptations of the small intestine of both mammals by investigating the collagen distribution and hydroxyproline/collagen content of their duodenum and ileum histologically and spectrophotometrically respectively. Ten animals each of both sexes were used. Portions of their small intestine were either fixed for routine histologic processing or homogenized and assayed for the hydroxyproline assay. Histological staining reveal that the collagenous distribution of duodenal submucosa and support of the villus core of the ileum is more prominent in the Pangolin than in the Bat. Data from the hydroxyproline colorimetric assay reveals that the Pangolin has significantly (p = 0.00042) higher total collagen content than in the Bat. It is concluded that the Pangolin has evolved a higher expression and distribution of collagen in their small intestine as a mechanism of coping with their tough diets despite the lack of teeth.

OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume 19 No. 3, 2019, 186-191

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2019.186.191

Submitted On: 13 September 2018 Published On: 11 August 2019

How to Cite: Anthony, A. G. (2019). Comparative Collagen Distribution in the Small Intestine of Eidolon Helvum and Manis Tricuspis. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 19(3), 186-191. https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2019.186.191

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Keywords

  • Bat
  • Pangolin
  • Collagen Stain
  • Hydroxyproline
  • Small Intestine