Analytical investigation of cilia induced mucous flow

This is an analytic study of mucous flow caused by ciliary motion. The computed flow data may be compared with that already found exprimentally. The effects of mucous density, viscosity and layer depth on flow phenomena are investigated. The effects of cilia diameter, length, spacing and oscillation frequency are determined from the equations governing the flow of the mucous blanket. A pertinent finding of the analysis is that the mucous flow in the airway tubes can satisfy physical constraints only through the assumption of a variable viscosity in the covering mucous blanket. The mucous viscosity must increase considerably from the low value at the cillium layer to a much higher value at the air-mucus interface.     

鲇肠道黏液细胞的类型、分布、发育及分泌方式研究

利用阿利新蓝-过碘酸雪夫氏试剂(AB-PAS,AB染液pH2．6),对鲇(Silurus asotus)肠道黏液细胞的类型与分布进行了研究,同时采用扫描和透射电镜,研究了黏液细胞的发育与分泌方式。结果显示:鲇肠道黏液细胞染色后呈深蓝色、淡蓝色和浅蓝色,主要含有酸性黏多糖:形态上进一步可将其分为囊状、梨状和杯状三种形态。肠道中黏液细胞的分布密度以中肠最高。其次是后肠,前肠最低;肠道黏液细胞由肠黏膜基底层细胞衍生后,不断向肠腔表层推移而发育成熟;发育过程中黏液细胞内富含大小不等的黏原颗粒,其分泌方式为顶浆分泌。     

A combined stain for identifying epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa

New techniques are proposed for differentiating each type of gastric epithelial cell in the same tissue section. The techniques combine the following stains: paradoxical concanavalin A staining (PCS) to identify mucous neck cells, periodic acid Schiff-concanavalin A staining to distinguish mucous neck cells from surface mucous cells, and a modified Bowie's stain to demonstrate zymogen granules of chief cells. Feulgen hydrolysis preceding the Bowie stain was found to remove most of the nonspecific coloration encountered with the original Bowie method. The results obtained by the new sequences were as follows: Feulgen hydrolysis-PCS-Bowie staining: mucous neck cells stained brown and chief cell zymogen granules deep blue. The other mucin-secreting cells remained unstained; Feulgen hydrolysis-PAS-concanavalin A-Bowie staining: mucous neck cells stained brown, zymogen granules stained deep blue to purplish blue and surface mucous cells stained purplish red.     

Post-embedding staining of rat gastric mucous cells with lectins

Summary The mucous cells of the rat stomach were stained with lectins by two post-embedding staining methods for electron microscopy. The mucous granules of surface mucous cells and foveolar mucous cells were stained weakly by Ricinus communis agglutinin-ferritin and wheat germ agglutinin-ferritin. The mucous granules of mucous neck cells were stained by concanavalin A-ferritin, Ricinus communis agglutinin-ferritin and wheat germ agglutinin-ferritin. The mucous granules of pyloric gland cells showed an affinity for wheat germ agglutinin-ferritin and concanavalin A-ferritin, while Ricinuscommunis agglutinin-ferritin only slightly stained the granules. The granules of mucous neck cells and pyloric gland cells were also stained by the concanavalin A-horseradish peroxidase-colloidal gold method, but the granules of surface and foveolar mucous cells were not stained by this method. Periodic acid oxidation of the sections before the standard concanavalin A-ferritin procedure enhanced the staining of the granules of mucous neck cells and pyloric gland cells slightly. Reduction of the sections after the periodic acid oxidation weakened the staining. Similar results were obtained using the concanavalin A-horseradish peroxidase-colloidal gold method. Though the staining with Ricinus communis agglutinin-ferritin was inhibited by periodic acid oxidation of the sections before staining, the staining with wheat germ agglutinin-ferritin was not inhibited by the oxidation. It is suggested that the paradoxical staining is closely related to the position of the concanavalin A-binding sugar residues in the carbohydrate chains.This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid (No. 457008) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan and a grant-in-aid for cancer research (55-21) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan     

鳜鱼消化道黏液细胞和6种酶的组织化学定位

采用阿利新蓝-过碘酸雪夫氏(AB-PAS)染色和酶组织化学方法对鳜鱼消化道各部位黏液细胞和6种酶的分布与定位进行了研究。结果显示,黏液细胞可为分为4种类型,食道黏液细胞多数为Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型,未见Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型;胃贲门和胃幽门黏膜上皮仅有Ⅰ型黏液细胞;胃体黏膜上皮则以Ⅲ型细胞为主;幽门盲囊中主要为Ⅱ型细胞;前肠和中肠中Ⅳ型黏液细胞最多,Ⅰ型最少;后肠黏液细胞则以Ⅳ型和Ⅱ型为主。酸性磷酸酶(ACP)主要分布于幽门盲囊和前肠的黏膜上皮;碱性磷酸酶(ALP)主要分布于食道、幽门盲囊和整个肠道黏膜上皮;非特异性酯酶(NSE)主要分布于胃幽门、中肠和后肠黏膜上皮;过氧化物酶(POX)在胃幽门黏膜上皮中活性较高;琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)主要分布于胃腺中;腺苷三磷酸酶(ATPase)在消化道各部位均有较多分布。鳜鱼消化道黏液细胞和酶的分布型与其它动物有相似之处,也有其一定的特异性,与消化道不同部位的消化吸收机能相适应。     

Specialized mucous glands and their possible adaptive role in the males of some species of Rana (Amphibia,Anura)

A structural and ultrastructural study was carried out on the cutaneous glands in some species of Rana (R. dalmatina, R. iberica, R. italica, R. "esculenta," and R. perezi), giving particular attention to the mucous secretory units. Two different types of mucous glands occur in R. dalmatina, R. iberica, and R. italica. Besides the ordinary mucous units, which are randomly distributed over the body surface in both males and females, a further population of mucous glands was observed on the male dorsal skin. The latter is recognizable by the peculiar morphology of the epithelial cells and some characteristics of the secretory product. Specialized mucous glands are absent in both sexes of R. "esculenta" and R. perezi. The possible adaptive role of the specialized mucous glands is discussed in light of the absence of vocal sacs in males of R. dalmatina, R. iberica, and R. italica. Chemosignals released by sexually dimorphic mucous units may replace vocal communication during the breeding season and so play an important role in female attraction and/or territorial announcement. The morphology and possible function of the specialized mucous glands in the three species of Rana are compared with the breeding glands of other frogs and with the hedonic glands of some urodeles (Salamandridae and Plethodontidae), which are known to produce pheromonal substances during courtship.     

A Combined Stain for Identifying Epithelial Cells of the Gastric Mucosa

New techniques are proposed for differentiating each type of gastric epithelial cell in the same tissue section. The techniques combine the following stains: A) paradoxical concanavalin A staining (PCS) to identify mucous neck cells, B) periodic acid Schiff-concana-valin A staining to distinguish mucous neck cells from surface mucous cells, and C) a modified Bowie's stain to demonstrate zymogen granules of chief cells. Feulgen hydrolysis preceding the Bowie stain was found to remove most of the nonspecific coloration encountered with the original Bowie method. The results obtained by the new sequences were as follows: 1) Feulgen hydroIysis-PCS-Bowie staining: mucous neck cells stained brown and chief cell zymogen granules deep blue. The other mucin-secreting cells remained unstained; 2) Feulgen hydrolysis-PAS-concanavalin A-Bowic staining: mucous neck cells stained brown, zymogen granules stained deep blue to purplish blue and surface mucous cells stained purplish red.     

Distribution of mucous cells on the body surface of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

The distribution of mucous cells was examined in the skin on the ocular and blind sides of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Observations were performed on both body sides at the following regions: cheek, lower jaw (blind side), gill cover (ocular side), dorsal side, lateral line, belly and caudal peduncle. The mucous cells observed were elliptic and positively stained for periodic acid Schiff reaction and Mayer's mucicarmine and showed a higher density and larger size on the ocular side compared to the blind side. Low densities of mucous cells were observed on the lower jaw compared with other regions of the body. The depth of the crack located between scales was deeper on the ocular side than the blind side, which might reflect total epidermis area and total number of mucous cells. Bacterial infection elucidated some information on the effect on the density and size of mucous cells, where the density and size decreased slightly after infection. Only the lower jaw, however, showed an increased number of mucous cells. The results show that the potential of skin to secrete mucus is higher on the ocular than on the blind side and bacterial infection decreases mucous secretion.     

Prolactin and ergocryptine effects on mucus glycoproteins of the rat ileum

Summary The present work reports observations from a first study on the effect of prolactin on mucous cells of the mammalian ileum. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with prolactin or with the prolactin-inhibitor ergocryptine. Light microscopic histochemical study revealed that ergocryptine increased the number both of Alcian Blue-positive mucous cells and of the total number of mucous cells in the ileal crypts. Prolactin treatment apparently decreased the number of Alcian Blue pH 1.0-positive (sulphated glycoprotein-containing) mucous cells on the villi but was without effect on crypt cells. The implications of these observations are discussed.     

Coexistence of gland mucous cell-type mucin and lysozyme in gastric gland mucous cells

Class III mucin, identified by paradoxical concanavalin A staining, is confined to gastric gland mucous cells and is an essential component of the gastric surface mucous gel layer. The pretreatment required has hampered the application of this method to electron microscopic studies. Antibody HIK1083 reacts selectively with class III mucins. The present study was undertaken to explore, electron microscopically, the immunoreactivity of the human stomach to HIK1083. We examined normal mucosa from resected human stomachs (five cases; formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) and gastric biopsy specimens from patients with early gastric cancer [nine cases; glutaraldehyde- and osmium-fixed, epoxy-embedded (seven cases) and half-strength Karnovsky’s solution-fixed, Lowicryl K4M-embedded (two cases)]. Immunostaining with HIK1083 and anti-lysozyme antibody was examined under light and electron microscopes. Gland mucous cells were labeled with HIK1083, and lysozyme was detected in some gland mucous cells and surface mucous cells. Electron microscopically, the secretory granules of gland mucous cells contained a single electron-dense core. HIK1083-positive mucins and lysozyme coexisted in the secretory granules of gastric gland mucous cells. HIK1083-reactive mucins and lysozyme were distributed in the matrix and in the dense core of these secretory granules, respectively. HIK1083 can be used for electron immunohistochemistry. Accepted: 1 December 1999     

Light and electron microscopic cytochemistry of glycoconjugates in the rectosigmoid colonic epithelium of the mouse and rat

The several cell types in mouse and rat rectosigmoid colon have been examined with light and electron microscopic methods for localizing and characterizing complex carbohydrates. Mucous cells, also termed vacuolated cells, and goblet cells comprised most of the deep crypt epithelium in both species, and absorptive columnar cells and goblet cells mainly populated the more superficial epithelium of the upper crypts and main lumen. Occasional tuft cells and enteroendocrine cells were also encountered. Transitional cells structurally intermediate between mucous cells and absorptive cells contained granules characteristic of mucous cells and vesicles like those of columnar absorptive cells. These intermediate cells supported the concept of replacement of mucous by absorptive cells through transformation of mucous into absorptive cells. The intermediate cells also contained numerous lysosomes often in apparent fusion with mucous granules, indicating crinophagic disposal of mucous granules as a mechanism in the cell transformation. Glycoconjugate in absorptive cell vesicles resembled that coating the apical plasmalemma and appeared to represent the source of the glycocalyx of the brush border. Complex carbohydrate in these vesicles differed cytochemically from that of the mucous cell granules, which release their content into the crypt lumen. The absorptive cell vesicles, therefore, constitute an organelle distinct from the mucous cell granules rather than an atrophic form of the latter in a more mature cell. Goblet cells differed in failing to transform morphologically with age but changed in the cytochemical characteristic of their secretion during migration up the crypts. Terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues diminished, while terminal sialic acid-galactose dimers increased during the upward migration, indicating activation of glycosyl transferase synthesis in relation to goblet cell maturation. Glycoconjugate in secretion of mucous cell granules differed markedly from that in goblet cell granules, and content of both organelles differed from that of absorptive cell vesicles. However, secretion in mucous cell granules appeared generally similar for mice and rats with minor exceptions, and secretion in goblets of mice generally resembled that in goblets of rats. Cells interpreted tentatively as Kulchitsky cells stained for high content of fucose with the Ulex europeus I lectin. Globoid leukocytes infiltrating the epithelium of the rat but not the mouse rectosigmoid colon resembled globoid leukocytes in rat tracheal epithelium and, like the latter, appeared to derive from mast cells.     

Carbohydrate histochemistry of the opossum submandibular and major sublingual glands.

Submandibular and major sublingual salivary glands of the opossum contain histochemically demonstrable neutral mucosubstances, nonsulfated acid musosubstances and sulfomucins. Sialomucins could not be demonstrated conclusively with the methods used in this study. Special serous cells of the opossum submandibular gland contained low concentrations of acidic mucosubstances but no appreciable concentration of neutral mucosubstances was seen. Sulfomucins were not observed in special serous cells. The mucous tubules of the submandibular gland contained high concentrations of neutral mucosubstances. No appreciable acidic mucosubstance was demonstrated in the submandibular gland mucous tubules. Unlike the mucous tubules of the submandibular gland, the major sublingual gland mucous tubules contained high concentrations of both neutral and acidic mucosubstances. The mucous tubules often contained sulfomucin-positive cells interspersed among cells that contained high concentrations of non-sulfated acidic mucosubstance. Marked staining of sulfated acidic mucosubstance was seen only in the major sublingual gland, in both the mucous tubules and in the seromucous demilunes. The seromucous demilunes contained both sulfated and non-sulfated acidic mucosubstances.     

Co-localization of TFF2 with gland mucous cell mucin in gastric mucous cells and in extracellular mucous gel adherent to normal and damaged gastric mucosa

Trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) is mucin associated peptide that has a mucosal barrier function in addition to participating in repair and healing. We examined the localization of TFF2 and gastric mucins in gastric mucous cells, the surface mucous gel layer (SMGL) adherent to normal gastric mucosa, and in the mucoid cap covering gastric erosions. Carnoy’s solution, or formalin/picric acid-fixed paraffin embedded materials from resected stomachs and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded gastric biopsy materials were used. Sections were immunostained for the TFF2 and histochemically stained for gastric mucins. In addition, thick sectioned gastric mucosa fixed in Carnoy’s solution were stained with FITC-labeled GSA-II lectin specific for gland mucous cell mucin and examined for three-dimensional images of the SMGL using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The TFF2 and gland mucous cell mucin were found intermixed together in the gastric gland mucous cells, in the SMGL in laminated layers, and in the mucoid cap. A laminated arrangement of continuous sheets of gland mucous cell mucin in the SMGL was demonstrated in the three-dimensional images. Co-localization of the TFF2 with gland mucous cell mucin suggests a physical interaction between the TFF2 and gland mucous cell mucin. The TFF2 trapped in the adherent mucins may be responsible for mucosal defense, healing, and repair.     

圈养大熊猫粘液排泄现象的观察

大熊猫(Ailuropodamelanoleuca)是中国特有的珍稀动物,它们以高纤维含量的竹子为主食,但却具有与食肉动物相似的消化系统结构,为适应高纤维的食物,它们又形成了与食竹相适应的消化生理特点。其整个消化道内膜上粘液腺丰富,在野外,这些粘液腺的分泌物包裹于大熊猫所摄食的竹茎、     

Restoration of mucociliary tracheal epithelium following deprivation of vitamin A. A quantitative morphologic study

In order to learn more about the respective roles played by basal cells and mucous cells in the maintenance of tracheal mucociliary epithelium, cell kinetics and epithelial cell morphology were characterized over a 7-day period, during which dietary vitamin A was restored to previously deprived hamsters. Hamsters were reared from birth to 35 days of age on vitamin A-replete or deficient diets. Deprived hamsters were made replete by 5 mg vitamin A-acetate orally, plus a vitamin A-replete diet. Colchicine and 3HTdR were given 6 h before death. The numbers of basal cells, mucous cells, preciliated cells and ciliated cells, and mitotic rates (MR) and labeling indices (LI) of basal cells and mucous cells, were quantified in glycol methacrylate sections stained with PAS-lead hematoxylin. Vitamin A-deprivation decreased replication of basal cells and mucous cells in tracheal epithelium which showed minimal morphological change. The proportion of basal cells was increased and proportions of mucous, preciliated and ciliated cells were decreased. Following restoration of vitamin A to the diet, the basal cell MR remained below control level throughout the experimental period, but the mucous cell MR started to rise on day 2-replete, and on day 3-replete and thereafter the mucous cell MR was within the control range. Basal cell and mucous cell LI's showed similar trends. Preciliated cells were reduced or absent in vitamin A-deprived epithelium. Their number had risen by day 3-replete and thereafter they were generated within the control range. These cells matured into ciliated cells. By day 4-replete, the proportion of basal cells had decreased markedly and the proportions of mucous cells, and preciliated plus ciliated cells had increased, so that at this time cellular proportions were within or near control values. This trend continued so that by day 7-replete, a nearly normal mucociliary epithelium was restored. The results show that vitamin A-levels modulate replication rates of basal cells and mucous cells and indicate that mitotic division of mucous cells is a prerequisite for the genesis of preciliated cells and new mucous cells and for restoration of the mucociliary epithelium following deprivation of vitamin A in the diet.     

[Ciliogenesis in the mucous cells of the quail oviduct. II. Hormonal control]

The hormonal control of ciliogenesis and transformation of mucous cells was studied in the oviduct (magnum) of ovariectomized quails. Estradiol benzoate induces ciliogenesis with doses varying from 10 mug/day to 100 mug/day after 6 days of treatment. With 100 mug/day, differentiation of some mucous cells is also induced as well as the formation of transitory "mixed cells" which are in the process of ciliogenesis and contain mucous granules. Associated with progesterone (1 mg/day), estradiol benzoate (10 mug/day) induces the differentiation of mucous cells and ciliated cells. The luminal epithelium of quails injected with this mixture is similar to the luminal epithelium observed in the oviduct of laying quails. With the same dose of progesterone (1 mg/day) and 20 mug/day of estradiol benzoate for 6 days, ciliogenesis is completely inhibited. All epithelial cells are secretory cells. Transformation of 50% of the mucous cells into ciliated cells is obtained by following the previous estradiol-progesterone treatment with the injection of estradiol benzoate (20 mug/day) for 3 days. Divisions of mucous cells were also observed. It is also possible to induce ciliogenesis in some mucous cells by withdrawing both hormones for 3 days. In this case, no cell divisions were observed.     

Quantitative distribution of various types of acid glycoprotein in mucous cells of human bronchi

Synopsis The mucous cells of human bronchial submucosal glands produce acid glycoprotein. Using histochemical techniques, four different histochemical types of acid mucin can be identified in these cells. Individual mucous cells may produce one type or one of a limited number of combinations of types.Qualitative analysis of the areas of mucous cells producing the different histochemical varieties show a similarity of values within one bronchial tree but a variation between cases. As the area of mucous cells producing one variety of acid mucin changes, the area of mucous cells producing the other types alters in a limited and predictable manner. Despite the wide area of distribution within a tracheo-bronchial tree, the mucous cells of the submucosal glands give similar results. The findings are discussed in relation to factors which limit or control the histochemical types of acid glycoprotein that may be produced by a single mucous cell and to those mechanisms that exert control such that glands at different sites within a bronchial tree produce a similar mixture of acid mucins.     

The distribution and function of mucous cells and their secretions in the alimentary tract of Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii

The mucosa of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and rectum of Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii contain saccular mucous cells and the lining of the intestinal mucosa contains goblet mucous cells. Saccular mucous cells in the buccal epithelium are present in relatively low densities and contain acidic and neutral glycoprotein-secreting cells in an approximately 1:1 ratio. The saccular mucous cells in the mucosa of the pharynx, oesophagus and rectum are abundant and contain acidic glycoprotein which consists principally of sialomucin with traces of sulphomucin distributed around the periphery of the mucous vacuoles. Goblet cells in the intestinal mucosa contain neutral glycoprotein. Mechanically digested plant material within the lumen of the gut is bound by a sheath of acidic glycoprotein which is in contact with the intestinal mucosa. From these observations and with information on the known properties of acidic glycoproteins, a novel mechanism for the involvement of mucus in the extraction of nutrients from plant material mechanically digested by fish is proposed.     

Ultrastructure of the principal and accessory submandibular glands of the common vampire bat

The principal and accessory submandibular glands of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, were examined by electron microscopy. The secretory endpieces of the principal gland consist of serous tubules capped at their blind ends by mucous acini. The substructure of the mucous droplets and of the serous granules varies according to the mode of specimen preparation. With ferrocyanide-reduced osmium postfixation, the mucous droplets are moderately dense and homogeneous; the serous granules often have a polygonal outline and their matrix shows clefts in which bundles of wavy filaments may be present. With conventional osmium postfixation, the mucous droplets have a finely fibrillogranular matrix; the serous granules are homogeneously dense. Mucous cells additionally contain many small, dense granules that may be small peroxisomes, as well as aggregates of 10-nm cytofilaments. Intercalated duct cells are relatively unspecialized. Striated ducts are characterized by highly folded basal membranes and vertically oriented mitochondria. Luminal surfaces of all of the secretory and duct cells have numerous microvilli, culminating in a brush borderlike affair in the striated ducts. The accessory gland has secretory endpieces consisting of mucous acini with small mucous demilunes. The acinar mucous droplets contain a large dense region; the lucent portion has punctate densities. Demilune mucous droplets lack a dense region and consist of a light matrix in which fine fibrillogranular material is suspended. A ring of junctional cells, identifiable by their complex secretory granules, separates the mucous acini from the intercalated ducts. The intercalated ducts lack specialized structure. Striated ducts resemble their counterparts in the principal gland. As in the principal gland, all luminal surfaces are covered by an array of microvilli. At least some of the features of the principal and accessory submandibular glands of the vampire bat may be structural adaptations to the exigencies posed by the exclusively sanguivorous diet of these animals and its attendant extremely high intake of sodium chloride.