A morphological and morphometrical study on the sacculus rotundus and ileum of the Angora rabbit

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to reveal morphological and morphometrical properties of the sacculus rotundus (SR) and ileum in the Angora rabbit. For this purpose, a total of thirteen adult healthy Angora rabbits of both sexes were used. At the level of the junction of the ileum and SR, the ileum invaginated into the SR by protruding in 9 Angora rabbits, but joined directly the SR in 21. Numerous aggregate lymph follicles located just under the tunica serosa formed outstanding macroscopic polygonal areas on the external surface of the SR. In the inner wall of the SR, irregular projections were seen grossly. The saccorotundocecal orifice was found to be bordered laterally by two folds facing the cecum. These folds enclosed small polygonal spaces with mushroom shaped protrusions. The mean lengths and weights of SR and ileum in male were larger than those in female, and the related values also had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the ileum, the SR had short and thick villi, had a large amount of crypts and aggregated lymphoid follicles, and had a much thicker wall and much wider lumen. The crescent-like-hollows were detected between the lamina propria and the apical portions of the lymph follicles. The results from this study are thought to shed light on future studies on the digestive system and proper diagnosis of pathological disorders related to it in the Angora rabbit, and to contribute to the present morphological knowledge on the SR and ileum in this species.

Abdominal ultrasound features and reference values in 21 healthy rabbits

“…Despite the lack of clear visualisation of the layering of some portions of the gastrointestinal tract, the reference values reported in Table 1 are consistent with the gross anatomical measurements available in the literature (Snipes 1979, Besoluk and others 2006, Saleh 2012). …”

The identification of intestinal M cells in the sacculus rotundus and appendix of the Angora rabbit

“…The SR is a lymphoid organ unique to rabbits, which is characterized with an ampoule-like enlargement of the terminal ileum, and is composed solely of aggregated lymphoid follicles (Beşoluk et al 2006;Snipes 1978). This organ is also named as the tonsilla iliaca or circular Peyer's patches (Haley 2003;Mage 1998).…”

Ultrasound and computed tomography of sacculitis and appendicitis in a rabbit

“…The rabbit cecum is a highly developed and differentiated organ, compared to the cecum of other species, such as dogs and cats . The sacculus rotundus is an ampullar distension of the intestine representing the distal end of the ileum, located on the first haustral‐like pouch of the corpus ceci.…”

“…The appendix is located at the caudal tip of the cecum, similar to humans . In Angora rabbits, the sacculus rotundus is described to have a thick wall with a wide lumen, short thick villi, large amount of crypts, and numerous lymphoid follicles . Moreover, on histopathology it differed from other parts of the digestive system and was considered a novel lymphoid organ, because of its high dense lymphoid accumulation .…”