Objective To investigate the histological characteristics of the tissues and organs of the digestive system of human and normal adult tree shrews and demonstrate their potential as animal models for human diseases in the digestive system. Method Six normal adult tree shrews ( half male and half female) were euthanized and subjected to dissection. The tissues and organs of the digestive system, such as the tongue, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, gastric, gastric pyloric gland, duodenum, and jejunum, were collected and subsequently fixed. Histological characteristics of the main organs of the tree shrew’ s digestive system were examined by HE staining on conventional embedded sections. Result

Digestive systems of tree shrews ware highly similar to humans in terms of the histological characteristics

of its main organs. There is a slight distinction, humans possess a thicker muscular layer in the esophagus

whereas tree shrews have a thinner muscular layer in the esophagus. The shape of pancreatic islets in the

human pancreas is mainly spherical, whereas in the tree shrew pancreas the shape of islets is variable,

with long spindle and oval shapes being the primary shapes with small amount spherical shapes.

tree shrew, digestive system, hepatitis, histology

目的 观察人与正常成年树鼩消化系统主要组织器官的组织学特性,为树鼩作为人类疾病动物模型在消化

系统中的应用提供组织学依据。 方法 正常成年树鼩 6 只,雌雄各半,动物安乐死后大体解剖,取材舌、食管、肝、

胆囊、胰腺、胃、胃幽门腺、十二指肠和空肠组织等消化系统主要组织器官,固定后常规包埋切片进行 HE 染色。 观

察树鼩消化系统主要器官的组织学特征。 结果 树鼩消化系统主要器官组织学特点基本与人类似,其中舌、食管、

肝、胆囊、胃、胃幽门腺、十二指肠、空肠形态结构与人相似度高。 但树鼩消化系统组织中食管和胰腺与人略有差

异,人食管肌层较厚,树鼩食管肌层较薄。 人胰腺中胰岛形状以球形为主,树鼩胰腺中胰岛形状多变,以长梭形和

椭圆形为主,球形为辅。 结论 树鼩消化系统主要器官与人类似,结合树鼩基因学特点,树鼩作为消化代谢系统尤

其是各类病毒性肝炎和糖尿病等疾病的易感动物可广泛运用于消化系统疾病实验动物的研究。

树鼩, 消化系统, 肝炎, 组织学