Feeding divergent and its correlation with histological and histochemical aspects of the gastric wall of some Lacertilian lizards .

Abstract

Few reports illustrated correlation between the histological structure of the wall of the stomach and the histochemical aspects of the gastric mucosa of some reptiles with different feeding habits. The aim of the present investigation was to clarify the effect of feeding differences on the histological structure and histochemical aspects of the gastric wall of some lacertilian lizards. A carnivorous lizard Varanus griseus (Family varanidae) and two insectivorous lizards i.e. Chamaeleon chamaeleon (Familly chamaeleontidae) and Eumeces schneiderii (Family scincidae) were chosen. These lizards were collected from Abou Rawash district, El-Fayoum and the desert areas near Alexandria. The histological results revealed that in the case of the lizard Varanus griseus; the muscularis consisted of two layers, an outer longitudinal muscle layer and an inner thick circular muscle layer. However, in the lizards (Chamaelon chamaelon and Eumeces schneiderii) it consisted of very thick circular muscle layer and devoid of longitudinal muscle layer. In the lizard Varanus griseus the mucosal layer was formed of three cellular types i.e. the surface epithelial cells, mucous glands and it consisted of surface epithelial cells and mucous glands and devoid of peptic cells. The histochemical results showed differences in reactivities and distribution of polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides and total proteins in the three lacertilian reptiles. In conclusion: There were differences in the histological structure of the gastric wall and the histochemical aspects of the mucosal layer between carnivorous and insectivorous lizards which were correlated with their food types and habitats.