Equine Stomach Development in the Foetal Period of Prenatal Life-A Histological and Histometric Study.
Authors: Poradowski Dominik, Chrószcz Aleksander
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how the equine stomach develops before birth provides essential insight into the structural maturity of the gastric mucosa at birth and early nutritional challenges in neonates. Poradowski and Chrószcz conducted a detailed histological and histometric analysis of stomach tissue samples from 24 foetuses across three developmental windows (fourth to eleventh month of gestation), examining both the non-glandular blind sac and the three glandular regions (cardiac, fundic and pyloric) using standard staining protocols and light microscopy. The fundic body of the stomach demonstrated the most robust prenatal growth—exceeding crown-rump length expansion—driven by intensive gland development, whilst the blind sac and other regions grew more slowly; critically, the epithelial differentiation from simple columnar lining to mature specialised glands (particularly parietal and chief cells) was not complete until the third age group, with full mucosal glycogen deposition comparable to adult levels only evident in the final weeks before birth. These findings suggest that foetal stomachs achieve structural maturity close to term, which carries implications for understanding the timing of colostral transfer, early feeding protocols in neonates and the management of gastric ulceration risk during the critical first weeks of life when the mucosa is transitioning from prenatal to fully functional postnatal conditions.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Foetal stomach gland development and maturation occurs gradually across the third trimester, suggesting careful feeding management of newborn foals should account for functional readiness of gastric secretions
- •The marked development of fundic glands in the fetal period indicates the stomach is preparing for digestive function before birth, relevant for understanding optimal colostrum timing and early feeding protocols
- •Histological maturation of gastric epithelium and gland cells continues into late gestation, supporting the importance of adequate maternal nutrition during the final months of pregnancy
Key Findings
- •Stomach mucosa partitioning into non-glandular and glandular regions occurs during the 1st age group (4th-11th month gestation)
- •The body of stomach demonstrates positive allometric growth (higher than crown-rump length), driven by strongest fundic gland development
- •Parietal cells first appear in gastric glands during the 2nd age group, with both parietal and chief cells present by the 3rd age group
- •PAS-positive reaction in gastric glands intensifies from moderate (2nd age group) to intense (3rd age group), comparable to adult horses