Abstract:
The distribution of neutral mucins, sialomucins and sulphomucins was determined histochemically in the
duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The techniques used were
periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) , alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS), high-iron-diamine/alcian blue (HID-AB),
alcian blue at varying pH solutions and alcian blue at high temperature after methylation and saponification. Acid
mucins appear to dominate neutral mucins, the latter decreasing toward the large intestine. Sulphomucins and
sialomucins occurred in almost equal amounts throughout the intestinal tract, with a slight decrease of
sialomucins toward the colon.
