The development of vagal innervation of the bovine stomach.

Abstract

AbstractThe development of the vagal innervation of the bovine stomach was examined in serial section from 15 embryos ranging from 10 to 20 mm crown‐rump length. Models of the gastric epithelium and nerves were made of an 11, 14, and 20 mm embryo. The vagal innervation of the stomach was also examined in six bovine fetuses ranging from 15 to 52 cm in length. The bovine stomach developed from a spindle‐shaped primordium at 10 mm to a four‐chambered organ at 20 mm. At 11 mm, the right and left vagus extended to a point dorsal to the heart where they divided into dorsal and ventral branches. The ventral branches fused to form the ventral vagal trunk and the dorsal branches fused to form the dorsal vagal trunk. At the 12 to 14 mm stage, both vagal trunks ran along the lesser curvature of the gastric pri‐mordium to the level of the developing abomasum. By 20 mm, the principal branches of the vagal trunks found in the adult were established and it became clear that the dorsal and ventral vagal trunks innervated areas of the ruminant stomach roughly comparable to the visceral and parietal (posterior and anterior (NA)) surfaces, respectively, of the simple stomach. The distribution of the vagal trunks in the fetuses was similar to that in the adult. Similarities in the development of the gastric nerves in man and ox were discussed.