Histochemical Observations on Rumen Mucosa Structure and Composition

Rumen mucosa was demonstrated to be a mucopolysaccharide-rich, parakeratotic, psoriatic, stratified squamous epithelium. Mucosa has the ability to function in the absorption of products of rumen digestion and in the protection of the rumen from the digesta mass by a partially keratinized mucus-covered outer layer. Cells of the substratum spinosum and stratum granulosum can simultaneously produce keratohyalin granules needed for keratinization, and function in mucus production. Basal cells were relatively unreactive to all histochemical tests, indicating an undifferentiated cell probably involved in metabolism and assimilation of absorbed microbial end products.