Ontogenesis of the omasum: a comparative analysis of the Merino sheep and Iberian red deer

The aim of this study is to describe differences in the ontogenesis of the omasum in sheep (domestic ruminant) and deer (wild ruminant). A total of 50 embryos and fetuses of Merino sheep and 50 Iberian deer were used, from the first stages of prenatal life until birth. For the study, the animals were divided into five experimental groups according to the most relevant histological characteristics. The appearance of the omasum from the primitive gastric tube was earlier in sheep (22% gestation, 33 days) than in deer (25% gestation, 66 days). In both cases it displayed a primitive epithelium of a stratified, cylindrical, non-ciliary type. The appearance of four laminae of different sizes was always earlier in sheep than deer. At around 36% gestation in sheep (53 days) and 36% (97 days) in deer, the omasum consisted of 4 clearly-differentiated layers: mucosa (with epithelial layer and lamina propria), submucosa, tunica muscularis and serosa. The temporal order of appearance of the four order laminae and omasal papillae was always earlier in sheep than deer. The tegumentary mucosa of the omasum was without secretion capability in the first embryonic phases. From 67 days (26% gestation) the neutral mucopolysaccharides appeared in deer and at 46 days (30% gestation) in sheep. In both cases they continued to decrease until birth, this decrease being more pronounced in deer. Finally, the presence of neuroendocrine and glial cells was detected in deer at earlier stages than in sheep.