Seven Baladi goats of both sexes (9 to 24
months old) were used to describe the distribution
pattern of ki-67, alpha smooth muscle actin
(αSMA) and vimentin (VIM) in the reticulum and
omasum. This study was carried out using the
avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method. Ki-67
immunostaining was restricted to the basal cells
layer in the epithelia of both the reticulum and
omasum, suggesting the importance of ki-67 in
epithelial cells proliferation and keratin biosynthesis.
Immunostaining for αSMA was detected in
smooth muscle cells in reticular folds, omasal
lamiae and muscularis in both the reticulum and
omasum, indicating the critical role of αSMA in
muscular motility. The widespread distribution of
VIM immunostainings in epithelia, fibroblasts in
lamina propria and submucosa, and endothelia of
blood vessels supports the importance of VIM as
an intermediate filament protein. Detection of
VIM in glial cells of enteric plexuses indicates its
supportive role in the nervous control of both reticulum
and omasum. Overall, this immunohistochemical
study revealed non-significant differences
in the expression of ki-67, αSMA, and VIM
between the reticulum and omasum. This study
thus verifies the important roles of ki-67, αSMA
and VIM in the structure and function of the reticulum
and omasum of Baladi goats.