Morphogenesis of the Epithelium and the Lamina Propria of the Rumen in Bovine Fetuses and Neonates

Developmental changes in the mucous membrane of the rumen in bovine fetuses were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ruminal epitheliums were obtained from 20 bovine fetuses and 4 bovine neonates. The samples were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was examined in the epithelial surface by SEM. Group 2 was examined in the surface of the lamina propria and the reverse face of the epithelium by SEM, after having separate the epithelium from the lamina propria by Scallata's PBS-EDTA method. Group 3 was examined in histological aspect.
The ruminal papillae appeared first in early in the 5th month of gestation. On the other hand, the papillae of the lamina propria appeared first in early 4th month or late 4th month of gestation. It seemed that the formation of papillae in the lamina propria always preceded that of ruminal papillae. Meanwhile, some epithelial cells were exfoliated from the ruminal surface cells during late 4th month to early 5th month of gestation. Ruminal surface cells came to have keratohyaline granules from the 5th month of gestation onward.