MUC1 and MUC4 gene expression and histochemical of small intestine of Quail (Coturnix coturnix) and owl (Tyto alba) (Comparative study)

Abstract

 The point of this study is to look at how environmental and dietary factors affect the small intestines of owls and quails by looking at the histological features and gene expression of mucin proteins. We compared the histochemical and gene expression profiles of MUC1 and MUC4 proteins present in the small intestines of owls and quails. The small intestine of the owl was characterised by a layer of simple, columnar epithelium interspersed with goblet cells. The duodenum organises the muscular mucosa into a single set of longitudinal fibres, while the submucosa constitutes a substantial layer of loose connective tissue. The jejunum exhibited a mucous membrane characterised by numerous large villi, while the ileum had simple columns and goblet cells. When quail ate, their small intestine had a simple columnar epithelium with microvilli that made a brush-like border and increased the surface area that could be absorbed. Goblet cells scattered throughout the epithelial cells are responsible for the release of mucus. The muscularis mucosa was different, with a thin layer of smooth muscle from the submucosa. The RT-PCR amplification plots of the MUC1 and MUC4 genes in the quail and owl's duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed different Ct cycle numbers, which were between 20 and 25. The melting peaks for the MUC1 of quail and owl were in the ranges of 65-80°C and 65-85°C, respectively, while the melting peaks for the housekeeping gene, MUC1,4, of quail and owl were in the ranges of 65-90°C and 65-80°C, respectively. The results of this study give us a lot of information about the structure, expression, of MUCs in quails and owls. This helps us learn more about how MUCs work in the digestive system and how they might be linked to elementary canal disorders.