Fetal gastric maturation in a rat model: gestational changes in glucose transporter-1, glucose transporter-4, and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor expression.

This study provides baseline data on fetal gastric development that may inform future research into congenital gastrointestinal abnormalities in veterinary species.

This study investigated the histological maturation of the fetal rat stomach and the spatiotemporal expression patterns of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4), and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) across gestational days 15 through 21 in Swiss albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Fetal gastric tissues were evaluated using light microscopy for structural development and immunohistochemistry with semiquantitative scoring for protein expression. Histological findings confirmed progressive maturation including glandular organization, mucosal fold development, and muscular layer differentiation with advancing gestation. GLUT-1 immunoreactivity was prominent in early gestational epithelium but became more spatially restricted over time, with comparatively higher expression in the fundus versus the pylorus. GLUT-4 expression increased at later gestational stages and localized predominantly to muscular compartments, suggesting a developmental shift in glucose transport mechanisms. IGF-1R immunoreactivity remained consistently weak throughout all gestational stages examined. The authors note that while these findings reflect known developmental trajectories, they do not directly confirm functional metabolic activity. The study provides foundational descriptive data on normal fetal gastric development in a rodent model, which may serve as a comparative reference for understanding congenital gastric abnormalities in veterinary species. These baseline data could support future investigations into developmental gastrointestinal pathologies across veterinary and comparative medicine contexts.

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