The cecal anatomy of the dwarf hamster,
Phodopus sungorus, was investigated macroscopically and at the light, transmission electron microscopic and scanning electron microscopic levels. In addition, the arterial supply to the cecum and connecting mesenteries were elucidated.
The cecum is divisible into an
ampulla ceci and a
corpus ceci. In the former, the differentiation of the ileocecal orifice and circumventing fold is described. Scanning electron microscopically, the surface topography of the cecum appears as ring-walled elevations with a central depression and looped configurations, which correlate light microscopically to a
rolling-hills
type mucosa with wide-opened crypts. This type of mucosa is set in contrast to the classically described large intestinal mucosa in man and some other mammals.
The present observations are compared with descriptions made on the cecum of the common field vole, Microtus agrestis, also a myomorph but belonging to another subfamily.
Key words Cecum - Dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus) - Light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy
The skillful technical assistance of Miss U. Heibel is greatly appreciated. For supplying specimens of Phodopus, Prof. W. Möller is gratefully acknowledged. For computer programming and statistical advice, special thanks are due to Dr. M. Csicsáky