dc.contributor.advisorKotze, Sanet H.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorVan der Merwe, Elizabeth L.en_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. Anatomy and Histology.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MsCMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal morphology and the distribution of the different types of mucin secreting goblet cells were investigated in three mammalian insectivorous species, namely A. spinosissimus, C. cyanea and A. hottentotus. The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive morphological comparison between the different species. Another aim was to illustrate and compare the distribution of mucins (neutral, sulfo- and sialomucins) in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of these species, in order to better understand the quality of the biofilm in the GIT. Mucins secreted onto the surface of the GIT have an effect on the colonisation of microflora in the mucosal layer, constructing a biofilm which protects the GIT surface from opportunistic pathogens.
Mixed (neutral and acid) mucins and mixed acid (sulfo- and sialomucins) mucin secreting goblet cells were prominent mucin cell types in all three mammalian insectivorous species. Despite these general similarities, marked differences were observed in the qualitative expression and distribution of the three types of mucins throughout the GIT. The overall similarity between the three insectivores and other distantly related mammalian species suggests that mixed mucin secreting goblet cell types are prominent contributors to the maintenance of the intestinal biofilm in the majority of mammals, irrespective of their diet or taxonomy.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bestudering van die morfologie van die spysverteringskanaal (SVK) en die verspreiding van die verskillende musien produserende bekerselle was in drie insek-etende soogdier spesies uitgevoer, naamlik in A. spinosissimus, C. cyanea en A. hottentotus. Die doel van die studie was om „n omvattende morfologiese vergelyking te maak tussen die drie spesies, sowel as om die verspreiding van die verskillende musiene te beskryf in die SVK. Kennis van die verspreiding van die verskillende tipes musiene (neutral, sulfaat en nie-sulfaat bevattende musiene) kan moontlik inligting verskaf aangaande die kwaliteit van die biofilm in the SVK. Die laasgenoemde musiene wat gesekreteer word op die oppervlak van die SVK, bepaal die kolonisasie van die mikroflora in die mukosale laag wat „n biofilm vorm en die SVK beskerm teen patogene.
Gemenge (neutral en suur) musiene asook gemengde suur (sulfaat en nie-sulfaat bevattende) musiene was die dominante musien tipes in the SVK van al drie insek-etende soogdier spesies. Ten spyte van die algemene ooreenkomste, was daar merkwaardige verskille in die getalle en verspreiding van die verskillende musiene in die SVK. Die algemene ooreenkomste tussen die drie insektivore soogdier spesies met soogdiere van ander families, stel voor dat die gemende musien sekreterende beker selle „n prominente bydrae maak tot die onderhoud van die biofilm in the SVK in die meerderheid van soogdiere, ongeag van hul dieet of spesie klassifikasie.af_ZA
dc.format.extent212 p. : ill.
dc.subjectVertebrates -- Morphologyen_ZA
dc.titleMorphology and mucin histochemistry of the gastrointestinal tracts of three insectivorous mammals : Acomys spinosissimus, Crocidura cyanea and Amblysomus hottentotusen_ZA