MUC3A and necrotizing enterocolitis: Moreover, although the NEC preterm piglets tended to exhibit a visually disrupted mucus layer with fewer acidic mucins (stained blue) (Fig. 6A), no differences in the density of goblet cells or the gene expression level of the predominant gel-forming intestinal mucin, MUC2, were observed between the NEC and healthy preterm piglets (Fig. 6C, E).