Histochemical properties of gastric mucins of Spermophilus xanthophrymnus inhibernation and active period

Introduction: S. xanthoprymnus is a terrestrial diurnal rodent and excelent hibernator. This study was performed to determine localization of gastric mucins of S. xanthophrymnus in hibernation and active period. Materials & Methods 32 animals were used in this study and 16 animals were seperated as active period and 16 animals were housed in laboratory for 100 days of hibernation. AB/PAS and (HID)/AB stainings were used to examine gastric mucins. Results: AB/PAS staining demonstrated that in cardia, the superficially located glands showed strong mixed reaction, while the deep glands displayed either AB (+) or PAS (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had both weak AB (+) and PAS (+) reactions in the glandular corpus. At the fundus, superficially located glands showed strong mixed reaction, while secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus displayed only PAS (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had weak or no PAS (+) reactions in secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus. At the pyloris, the superficially located glands and secretory ducts of the glands showed strong mixed reaction, while the deep glands displayed PAS (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had weak PAS (+) reaction in secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus.  HID/AB staining demonstrated that in cardia, the superficially located glands showed weak AB (+) reaction, while the deep glands displayed both strong HID (+) and weak AB (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had weak AB (+) and no HID (+) reaction in the glandular corpus. At the fundus, the superficially located glands showed weak AB (+) reaction, while secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus displayed HID (+) and AB (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had no HID (+) reaction in secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus. At the pyloris, superficially located glands showed weak AB (+) while the deep glands displayed both HID (+) and AB (+) reaction. Animals under hibernation had weak AB (+) and no HID (+) reaction in secretory ducts of the glands and the glandular corpus. Conclusions: Gastric mucins contents in stomach remarkably alter during hibernation compared to active period.