Histogenesis and Histomorphometric study of Human Fetal Small Intestine

Abstract

Background: Intestine plays a major role for the normal growth ofthe fetus during the prenatal period. The process of the embryonicdevelopment is not quantified histologically. Therefore the mainaim of the study was to measure the thickness of all part of the wallof the small intestine that are mucosa, submucosa and muscularisexterna and to look for the appearance of the Brunner’s glandsand Peyer’s patches in the submucosa of duodenum and ileum.Methods: The present study was carried out on 30 fetuses ofgestational ages ranging from 11-36 weeks. Ten fetuses from eachtrimester were used in the study. Fetal small intestine weredissected carefully, and were separated as duodenum, jejunum &ileum and fixed in formalin solution. The tissue was processed forhistology and then slides were stained with Haematoxylin andEosin. The microscopic features were noted using light microscope.Results: The thickness of the mucosa, submucosa and themuscularis externa was observed to be increased in first trimester,decreased in the second trimester and again increased in the thirdtrimester, which could be because of the increase cell turnover andthe arrangement of the collagen fibers as to support the mucosaand the muscularis externa.Conclusion: Thus, the knowledge of the histogenesis andhistomorphometry of the human fetal small intestine is crucial forthe adult gastroenterologist to appreciate, because of the potentialfor these early life events to affect the responsiveness of theintestine to physiological or pathological challenges in later life.