An immunohistochemical study of somatostatin in the stomach and the small intestine of the African ostrich (Struthio camelus)

The aim of the present study was to clarify the distribution and relative frequencies of somatostatin (SST)-producing cells in the stomach and the small intestine of the ostrich by using immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that somatostatin-immunoreactive (SST-IR) cells were distributed in mucosal layers of the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. However, no immunoreactivity was observed in the gizzard. SST-IR cells were found at the lower part of glandular lobule in the proventriculus, which were oval and round generally. SST-IR cells were present in the mucous membrane of entire small intestine of the ostrich. SST-IR cells had round and spherical shapes (closed-type cells), or spindle and pyriform shapes (open-type cells) in the small intestine. SST-positive cells were localized preferentially in the proventriculus of the 60-day-old ostrich. These results indicated that SST might be involved in functional and developmental regulation of gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich.     

中国黄羽鹌鹑消化道嗜银细胞胚后发育的分布及形态学观察

采用Grimelius银染法,对中国黄羽鹌鹑(Coturnix aponica)消化道嗜银细胞胚后发育的分布规律和形态结构进行了观察。结果显示,口腔、食管、嗉囊和泄殖腔中未发现嗜银细胞,其余部位均有不同数量的分布,其分布呈波浪形,大多数日龄段在腺胃和结直肠中存在2个分布高峰,回肠次之,十二指肠、空肠、盲肠较少,随着日龄增加,不同部位嗜银细胞数量均先增加,后减少,在100 d时达高峰。嗜银细胞主要分布在腺胃腺叶内细胞之间、肠黏膜上皮细胞之间及固有层内,形态多呈圆形、椭圆形、锥形及梭形等。结合嗜银细胞形态与功能间的联系,发现消化道内广泛分布着4种类型的嗜银细胞。我们认为中国黄羽鹌鹑消化道的嗜银细胞具有内分泌、外分泌及旁分泌3种功能,其分布特点可能与动物的食性及生活环境有关。     

循环饥饿投喂对大鼠消化道嗜银细胞形态及分布的影响

为了研究循环饥饿投喂对大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)消化道内嗜银细胞的分布密度及形态功能的影响,本实验采用Grimelius银染法观察和测定循环饥饿投喂(饥饿1 d,投喂1 d,周期为14 d)期间大鼠消化道嗜银细胞形态功能及密度分布。结果表明,实验组(即循环饥饿投喂组)和对照组(正常喂食组)大鼠消化道嗜银细胞除食管外均有分布,形态上对照组嗜银细胞以椭圆形和锥体形为主,实验组嗜银细胞则主要以锥体形为主;两组大鼠消化道嗜银细胞的分布密度高峰都位于胃,密度低谷对照组位于空肠、盲肠、回肠和直肠,实验组位于空肠到直肠各段;实验组大鼠消化道嗜银细胞分布密度在贲门和幽门部极显著低于对照组(P <0.01),结肠显著低于对照组(P <0.05),说明循环饥饿投喂会明显改变消化道嗜银细胞的形态并降低细胞数量,这可能与内分泌细胞的功能改变有关。     

猫儿山两种有尾两栖类消化道嗜银细胞比较观察

为探究有尾两栖类消化道内分泌细胞的特点,以分布于猫儿山保护区的猫儿山小鲵（Hynobius maoershanensis）和瑶山肥螈（Pachytriton inexpectatus）为研究对象,采用Grimelius银染法,对二者消化道嗜银细胞的形态特征、分布区域与分布密度进行了比较研究,为有尾两栖类消化道比较组织学和内分泌学研究积累基础资料,并为两栖类消化生理学研究提供形态学数据基础。结果显示,两种动物从食道至直肠均有嗜银细胞分布,分布型都呈波浪形,均在食道处分布密度（个/视野）最高,猫儿山小鲵为2.00 ± 0.69,瑶山肥螈为3.42 ± 0.31,在猫儿山小鲵回肠（1.45 ± 0.50）和瑶山肥螈在直肠（1.63 ± 0.97）分布密度最低。瑶山肥螈消化道各部位嗜银细胞的分布密度都高于猫儿山小鲵,两种动物嗜银细胞分布密度在食道、贲门、十二指肠和回肠中差异显著,但在胃体、幽门和直肠中差异不显著。对同一物种消化道不同部位嗜银细胞进行比较,猫儿山小鲵及瑶山肥螈的嗜银细胞分布密度高峰均出现在食道,其中,猫儿山小鲵食道与十二指肠、回肠、直肠差异显著（P < 0.05）,瑶山肥螈食道与其他各部位差异显著（P < 0.05）。嗜银细胞形状多样,有圆形、椭圆形、锥形和梭形等,可分为闭合型和开放型细胞。猫儿山小鲵生活环境多为沼泽地,富含淤泥、落叶,喜食蛙类蝌蚪、蚯蚓等个体较小且易消化的食物,瑶山肥螈生活环境为石块粗砂较多的山溪,以虾、蟹、螺等为食,这两种动物消化道嗜银细胞的形态特征和分布密度各具自身特点,可能与其生境及食性等因素有关。     

黑水虻消化道形态及组织结构的观察

本文比较了不同发育阶段黑水虻Hermetia illucens消化道的形态学差异,掌握了幼虫消化系统的组织学特征。利用体视镜观察黑水虻5龄幼虫、预蛹及成虫的消化道形态,利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察幼虫消化道各段(前肠、中肠、后肠)的显微及超微结构。结果表明：黑水虻幼虫及预蛹的消化道均由前肠(食道和前胃)、中肠及后肠组成,从幼虫到成虫,消化道的长度不断缩短。与幼虫和预蛹相比,成虫消化道形态变化明显,前胃消失,出现了嗉囊及胃盲囊,中肠进一步缩短,后肠分化为回肠、结肠和直肠。组织学观察结果显示,幼虫的唾液腺开口于口腔,由膨大的管状腺体和腺管组成。食道由特化为角质刺突的内膜层及发达的肌层组成,其末端延伸至前胃。前胃膨大为球状,包括三层组织结构。根据上皮细胞形态的差异,中肠可分为四个区段。后肠薄,肠腔内褶丰富,肠壁可见数量较多的杆状细菌。马氏管开口于中、后肠交界处,包括4支盲管,管内壁密布微绒毛。黑水虻消化道形态随发育阶段的变化,反映了各阶段摄食及消化生理的差异。幼虫消化道各段具有各自典型的组织学特征,其前、中、后肠可能分别承担了食物接纳与初步消化、消化与吸收以及重吸收功能。本研究结果为进一步了...     

Postnatal development of intra-epithelial leukocytes in the chicken digestive tract: phenotypical characterization in situ

In the present study, we characterized intra-epithelial leukocytes in the digestive tract of chickens during postnatal development. Their phenotype was characterized by monoclonal antibodies in cryostat sections and the numbers of the different cell-types were counted in the epithelium of the esophagus, proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and colon. All intra-epithelial leukocytes bore the leukocyte-common antigen CD45; 35% were T lymphocytes, and 50% bore a B-cell marker. However, no immunoglobulin-bearing cells were detected in the epithelium. Monocytes and macrophages were found only in the epithelium of the esophagus. A remaining population of non-B, non-T, non-monocyte cells (15%) was present in all parts of the digestive tract. The number of intra-epithelial leukocytes was greatest in the duodenum and jejunum, and decreased in the proximal part of the cecum and in the colon. Intra-epithelial leukocytes were only sporadically detected in the proventriculus. The total number of intra-epithelial leukocytes increased until 8 weeks after hatching and then decreased at 18 months. In the esophagus, the total number of intra-epithelial leukocytes changed little during aging. We found that the intra-epithelial leukocytes of chickens and rodents are distinct in that chicken intra-epithelial leukocytes comprise a cell population that bears a B-cell antigen but that lacks surface immunoglobulins.     

Existence of ghrelin-immunopositive and -expressing cells in the proventriculus of the hatching and adult chicken

Ghrelin was isolated from the rat stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) and has been found in the gastrointestinal tract of many vertebrates. Although the sequence and structure of chicken ghrelin has recently been determined, morphological characteristics of ghrelin cells in the chicken gastrointestinal tract are still obscure. In this study, we investigated ghrelin expression and distribution of ghrelin-producing cells in the hatching and adult chicken gastrointestinal tract by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Ghrelin mRNA expression was observed mainly in the proventriculus in the hatching chicken and in the proventriculus, pylorus and duodenum of the adult chicken by RT-PCR. Ghrelin-immunopositive (ghrelin-ip) cells in the proventriculus were located at the mucosal layer but not in the myenteric plexus or smooth muscle layer. The number of ghrelin-ip cells in the adult chicken was greater than that in the hatching chicken. Interestingly, in the adult chicken, the number of ghrelin-ip cells were almost the same as that of ghrelin mRNA-expressing (ghrelin-ex) cells; however, in the hatching chicken, the number of ghrelin-ex cells was greater than that of ghrelin-ip cells. These results clearly demonstrate that ghrelin-producing cells exist in the chicken gastrointestinal tract, especially in the proventriculus, from hatching to adult stages of development, as well as in mammals.     

北京鸭消化道内分泌细胞的免疫组织化学研究

应用七种消化道激素抗血清，对北京鸭消化道内分泌细胞进行了免疫组织化学定位，促胃素释放肽细胞大量分布于腺胃和肌胃。生长抑素细胞在腺胃和肌胃数量很多，在幽门部密集，且偶见于十地二指肠，胃素细胞在幽门部非常密集，并较多分布于整个小肠，肌胃内亦有少量。５－羟色胺细胞大量见于肠管各段，并偶见于幽门，少量胰多肽细胞见于腺胃、十二指肠和空肠，未检出胃动素和抑胃肽细胞。     

Distribution and morphology of ghrelin-immunopositive cells in the cerebellum of the African ostrich

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, has been found in the cerebellum of many vertebrates and in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks, but little is known about its distribution in the cerebellum of the African ostrich. In the present study, the distribution and morphological characteristics of ghrelin-producing cells in the cerebellum of the African ostrich were investigated using immunohistochemistry. The results indicate that the cerebellum is divided into two sections: the outer cerebellar cortex and the inner medulla of cerebellum. The cerebellar cortex comprises a molecular layer, a Purkinje cell layer and a granular layer; ghrelin-immunopositive (ghrelin-ip) cells were localized throughout the entire cerebellum, but sparsely in the medulla. The greatest number of ghrelin-ip cells was found in the stratum granulosum, and the density decreased gradually from the molecular layer to the Purkinje cell layer in the cerebellar cortex. The ghrelin-ip cells were fusiform or irregular polygons and their cytoplasm was stained intensely. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of ghrelin-ip cells in the cerebellum of the African ostrich. It is speculated that ghrelin may have a physiological function in the cerebellum.     

Comparative study of the digestive system of three species of tinamou. I. Crypturellus tataupa,Nothoprocta cinerascens,and Nothura maculosa (Aves: Tinamidae)

The morphology and histology, as well as the cytochemistry of complex carbohydrates, of the digestive system of Crypturellus tataupa (tataupa tinamou), Nothoprocta cinerascens (brushland tinamou), and Nothura maculosa (spotted tinamou) are described. The general morphology of the digestive system of these birds follows the basic model of the avian alimentary canal, although statistical analysis shows that the lengths of the organs are significantly different among the species. From cephalic to caudal regions the alimentary tract consists of esophagus, ingluvies or crop, proventriculus or glandular stomach, ventriculus or muscular stomach, small intestine, well-developed ceca, and rectum. Histologically, each section of the tract consists of four primary tissue layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and adventitia. Variations are found in the thickness of the esophageal epithelium, which shows the highest value in C. tataupa. In the proventriculus, the depth of the compound glands is greatest in N. cinerascens. The villi of the epithelial cells in the small intestine are most extensively developed in C. tataupa. Heterogeneity of mucins is detected not only in the surface coat of the alimentary tract but in the cellular content of the glands as well. Comparisons with the morphology of the digestive system of closely related and more advanced birds are made, and the possible relationship between morphological and cytochemical variation and the diet is discussed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

NADPH-diaphorase activity in the digestive system of gastropod molluscs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Achatina fulica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Littorina littorea</Emphasis>

Distribution and morphological peculiarities of nitroxidergic elements throughout the entire length of digestive tract was studied for the first time in gastropod molluscs Littorina littorea (Prosobranchia) and Achatina fulica (Pulmonata) using histochemical detection of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPHd). NO-ergic cells and fibers were revealed in all parts of the mollusc digestive system beginning from esophagus. Intensive NADPHd activity is found in a great number of intraepithelial cells of the open type and their processes in the intraand subepithelial nerve plexuses, subepithelial neurons, granular connective tissue cells, and multiple nervous fibers distributed among muscular elements of digestive tract as well as those in nerves innervating the tract. NADPHd was also revealed in receptor cells in the oral area and in the A. fulica CNS ganglia innervating the digestive tract. A. fulica has a more complicated organization of A. fulica nitroxidergic system of the digestive tract. A system of glomerular structures formed by thin NADPHd-positive neural fibers coming from epithelium is found directly beneath the epithelium in esophagus, stomach, and midgut of the mollusc. More superficially under the main groups of muscular elements there are revealed small clusters of NADPHd-positive neurons that can be classified as primitive, non-structured microganglia. The distribution pattern and a possible functional role of nitroxidergic elements in digestive tract of molluscs as compared with other invertebrate and vertebrate animals are discussed.     

青海沙蜥消化道组织结构及嗜银细胞研究

为揭示青海沙蜥消化系统的组织结构,探索其高海拔适应的组织学基础,应用解剖学与石蜡切片、H.E染色和Grimelius银染法对青海沙蜥消化道组织结构和嗜银细胞进行研究。结果显示:青海沙蜥的消化道管壁结构分为4层,从内到外依次是粘膜层、粘膜下层、肌层和浆膜。消化道各段的长度和壁厚均存在显著差异,其中小肠最长,胃幽门部的管壁最厚。粘膜皱襞和绒毛的分布也存在差异,空肠部位的小肠绒毛数量最多,其次是十二指肠和回肠。嗜银细胞形状多样,广泛分布在消化道各段的黏膜上皮基部和黏膜上皮之间。胃体是嗜银细胞分布密度最高的部位,其次是贲门,回肠最低。与栖息在低海拔的有鳞类相比,青海沙蜥为适应高海拔环境,小肠的相对长度变长,胃体部嗜银细胞增多。     

Cellular localization and ontogeny of immunoreactive Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the chicken gut

Summary Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerves were abundant along the entire digestive tract of the chicken. In the proventriculus, gizzard and small intestine VIP nerves were numerous around glands and less numerous in the smooth muscle. Submucosal blood vessels were often encircled by VIP nerves. VIP nerves were also seen in the submucosal and myenteric plexus. In the large intestines the VIP innervation of the smooth muscle was more predominant, while there was a rather sparse supply of VIP nerves around the base of the crypts. This innervation pattern was a consistent finding with four different VIP antisera. VIP-immunoreactive cells, however, were demonstrated with only three of the antisera. They were found scattered in the epithelium of the proventriculus and small and large intestines. The failure of one of the antisera to demonstrate endocrine cells suggests that the VIP-immunoreactive material in these cells differs from that in nerves. Conceivably, the material present in nerves represents VIP, while that in endocrine cells represents cross-reacting peptides or other molecular forms of VIP.VIP nerves appeared comparatively early in embryonic development. They appeared in the upper part of the digestive tract at 13 days of incubation and in the colon a few days before hatching; at this stage, only smooth muscle received VIP nerves. The adult pattern of innervation was established about two to four weeks after hatching. VIP-immunoreactive endocrine cells appeared in the intestines a few days before hatching. The adult frequency of occurrence was established about one week after hatching.     

花背蟾蜍消化道5-羟色胺细胞的分布及形态学特征

采用卵白素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物（avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique,ABC）免疫组织化学方法对花背蟾蜍（Bufo raddei）消化道5-羟色胺（5-HT）细胞的分布密度及形态学特征进行了观察。结果显示,5-HT细胞在花背蟾蜍整个消化道中均有分布,食管、贲门、胃体和幽门的分布密度都显著高于肠道各段,胃幽门部密度最高,胃体部其次,直肠部最低。消化道各个部位5-HT开放型和闭合型细胞的比值变化范围为2.48~4.71。消化道各段均以开放型细胞为主,大多呈锥体形、梭形或不规则形,少数为闭合型细胞,呈圆形或椭圆形。花背蟾蜍5-HT细胞的形态学特征与其他两栖动物相似,但分布密度有自身特征,可能与其食性和善于摄取活动性小的食物的生活习性有关。     

Distribution of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of Alligator sinensis during the active and hibernating period

The digestive tract is the largest endocrine organ in the body; the distribution pattern of endocrine cells varies with different pathological and physiological states. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distributed density of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), gastrin (GAS), somatostatin (SS) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactive (IR) cells in the digestive tract of Alligator sinensis during the active and hibernating period by immunohistochemical (IHC) method. The results indicated that 5-HT-IR cells were distributed throughout the entire digestive tract, which were most predominant in duodenum and jejunum. The density increased significantly in stomach and duodenum during hibernation. GAS-IR cells were limited in small stomach and small intestine. The density decreased significantly in small stomach during hibernation, while increased in duodenum. What's more, most of the endocrine cells in duodenum were generally spindle shaped with long cytoplasmic processes ending in the lumen during hibernation. SS-IR cells were limited in stomach and small stomach. The density increased in stomach while decreased in small stomach during hibernation, meanwhile, fewer IR cells occurred in small intestine. VIP-IR cells occurred in stomach and small stomach. The density decreased in small stomach, while increased in stomach during hibernation. These results indicated that the endocrine cells in different parts of digestive tract varied differently during hibernation, their changes were adaptive response to the hibernation.     

龟足消化系统形态和组织学特点

应用光学显微镜观察龟足（Capitulum mitella）消化系统的形态和组织结构。龟足的消化系统包括消化腺和消化道。消化腺一对,呈长囊状,含有分泌细胞（B细胞）、吸收细胞（R细胞）、储存细胞（F细胞）和胚细胞（E细胞）4种类型细胞。消化道呈U型,由口、食道、胃、肠、直肠和肛门组成,各部分的结构由内到外可分为黏膜层、黏膜下层、肌层和外膜4层。口器为咀嚼型,包括一片上唇、一对触须、一对大颚以及两对小颚。食道细短,具几丁质层但无基膜,管壁向腔内突起形成明显的纵褶突;食道前段的环肌特别发达,同时独有放射肌。胃略呈球袋状,肠较长;胃和肠的组织结构相似,没有几丁质层,上皮细胞都有发达的微绒毛。直肠细长,外膜分布有16组纵肌;直肠前段的组织结构与胃、肠相似,而直肠后段有几丁质层覆盖,黏膜层、黏膜下层、肌层和外膜渐退化,16组纵肌渐发达。肛门16组更加发达的纵肌挤入上皮细胞下方,在外膜外另出现一层明显的环肌。龟足消化道各部分的组织结构差异明显,反映了它们功能的差异。     

Enteroendocrine cells in the digestive tract of Barbus conchonius (teleostei,cyprinidae)

Just as in other cyprinids, three zones can be distinguished in the digestive tract of Barbus conchonius. A fat absorptive zone (65--75%), including the intestinal bulb, is followed by a protein absorptive zone (25--35%) and a small ion and water absorptive zone (less than 5%). The main characteristics of these zones are described. Four types of enteroendocrine cells can be distinguished between the intestinal epithelial cells. The number decreases in the caudal direction, and there are very few in the protein absorptive zone. All the enteroendocrine cells are argyrophilic and differ mainly in the size and shape of their secretory granules. Serotonin producing and hence argentaffin cells have not been found. Amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) by the enteroendocrine cells of adult fishes has not been observed. The possible functions of the enteroendocrine cells are discussed. (Auto-)phagosomes, common in epithelial cells of the gut of B. conchonius, show similar staining characteristics as the enteroendocrine cells; their function is discussed.     

DIFFERENTIATION OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT EPITHELIUM UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HETEROLOGOUS MESENCHYME OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT IN THE BIRD EMBRYOS

The endoderm of the oesophagus, proventriculus, gizzard or small intestine of the 5-day-old chick or quail embryo was cultivated in combination with homologous or heterologous mesenchyme on a WxxxOLFFyyy and HxxxAFFHNyyy medium for 7 to 21 days or on the chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) for 8 days. With homologous mesenchyme the epithelium always differentiated homotypically. In association with heterologous mesenchyme, the differentiation of the epithelium was both homotypical and heterotypical depending on the region of the digestive tract. The oesophagus and small intestine differentiate mainly homotypically both in culture and on CAM, but the gizzard and proventriculus show heterotypic differentiation particularly on CAM. Thus, the endoderm of the digestive tract of the 5-day-old chick or quail embryo, though rather "determined", still reacts to the heterologous stimuli of the mesenchyme to some degree.     

The Pyloric Caeca Area Is a Major Site for IgM+ and IgT+ B Cell Recruitment in Response to Oral Vaccination in Rainbow Trout

Although previous studies have characterized some aspects of the immune response of the teleost gut in response to diverse pathogens or stimuli, most studies have focused on the posterior segments exclusively. However, there are still many details of how teleost intestinal immunity is regulated that remain unsolved, including the location of IgM⁺ and IgT⁺ B cells along the digestive tract and their role during the course of a local stimulus. Thus, in the current work, we have studied the B cell response in five different segments of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) digestive tract in both naïve fish and fish orally vaccinated with an alginate-encapsulated DNA vaccine against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). IgM⁺ and IgT⁺ cells were identified all along the tract with the exception of the stomach in naïve fish. While IgM⁺ cells were mostly located in the lamina propria (LP), IgT⁺ cells were primarily localized as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). Scattered IgM⁺ IELs were only detected in the pyloric caeca. In response to oral vaccination, the pyloric caeca region was the area of the digestive tract in which a major recruitment of B cells was demonstrated through both real time PCR and immunohistochemistry, observing a significant increase in the number of both IgM⁺ and IgT⁺ IELs. Our findings demonstrate that both IgM⁺ and IgT⁺ respond to oral stimulation and challenge the paradigm that teleost IELs are exclusively T cells. Unexpectedly, we have also detected B cells in the fat tissue associated to the digestive tract that respond to vaccination, suggesting that these cells surrounded by adipocytes also play a role in mucosal defense.