The objective of this research was to identify if different kind of physical and alimentary management determine adaptative changes in morphometry of the esophagus-gastric transition epithelium. 15 sets comprehending the esophagus-gastric transition region (TEG) was used in adult horses considering undefined breed, gender and age divided in three groups according to diet and physical activity: group I - Five sets (TEG) of horses in intensive training fed with commercial ration; group II - Five sets (TEG) of horses which did not develop any intensive physical activity and fed by commercial ration; group III - Five sets (TEG) of horses kept in the grass without any extra feeding which did not develop any intensive physical activity. The esophagus-gastric transition region had its epithelium structure evaluated morphometrically where measurements were done to identify the thickness of the stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. The thickness of the grup I had as average 122.3µm, grup II 173.4µm of grup III 281.7µm. Results of stratified squamous keratinized epithelium thickness have shown the existence of statistically significant differences of group I when compared to group III.
esophagus-gastric transition; physical exercise; diet; horses
