HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE GREY WOLF (CANIS LUPUS) STOMACH

The aim of the current study was to investigate the microscopic anatomy structure of the grey wolf stomach wall and to compare it with another carnivorous as dog, fox, jackal, cat and tiger, respectively which were surveyed previously. The stomach of 2 male grey wolfs obtained after unplanned hunting, were investigated microscopically. The observation and morphometry was done by using „Olympus“ microscopic computer system. The mucous membrane of the grey wolf stomach wall contains the typical tubular glands in different anatomical regions of the stomach and a chief, parietal and mucous exocrinocytic cells are presented. But no signs of the layer stratum compactum belt-like collagen formation was observed in wolf stomach mucosa. In layer tela submucosa well developed network of myotypical arterial and venous blood vessels are observed. The muscle layer of the wall is proportionally developed from three-positional situated smooth muscle cells bundles and an autonomic intramural myenteric nervous plexus is found between. The most outer layer serosa is morphologically presented and it enveloped the organ. Dismissing the layer stratum compactum in grey wolf stomachs is similar fact as another canine animal species like dog, fox and jackal but it differs in cat and tiger where it was demonstrated. This fact supports the hypothesis that the mucosal layer stratum compactum may not to be presented in animals belonging to Canidae family carnivores but usually exists in Felidae animals.