Many pathogens require direct binding to mucosal cells to cause an infection. The mucosal epithelium of the digestive tract, which is covered by a mucin layer, fulfills several protective functions that are essential to maintaining the health of the digestive tract. Mucins are glycoproteins, which are found on membranes and in mucus gels and protect the underlying mucosal cells. Both membrane-associated mucins and secreted mucins are critical components of mucosal defense. The aim of this study was to determine the localization and expression of mucin profile of the abomasum via histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The abomasums of 20 bulls and 20 rams were evaluated. Histochemical examination showed that neutral and acidic mucins were present in the mucosa and the glands of the pars cardiaca, fundus, and pars pylorica of the abomasums of both bulls and rams. However, the expression of acidic mucins was weak in the superficial glands and strong in the deep glands of the abomasum of rams. In both bulls and rams, MUC1, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were expressed in the glandular epithelial cells in all regions of the abomasum. Interestingly, while MUC2 was not expressed in the pars cardiaca and fundus, it was weakly expressed in the parietal cells of the pars pylorica in both species. In conclusion, the presence of neutral and acidic mucins and MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 proteins in luminal epithelial and glandular cells of abomasum in the bulls and rams support the hypothesis that mucins play a key role in the protection of the abomasal mucosa against infectious agents.

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In most mammals, leptin plays central and peripheral roles in a wide range of metabolic activities including feed consumption and digestion, energy expenditure and the regulation of carbohydrate‐fat accumulation. Ghrelin is a strong appetite‐stimulating hormone, while obestatin has the opposite effect of ghrelin. The latter is released during feeding, causing a sense of satiety. This study aimed to reveal if the metabolic hormones, as well as OB‐R and GHS‐R, were present in bull and ram abomasums. Streptavidin‐biotin peroxidase method was implemented to determine the expressions and localizations of metabolic hormones and their receptors, and obestatin. Immunoreactivity for leptin and obestatin was present in the cytoplasms of luminal and glandular cells, while smooth muscle cells were immunoreactant for ghrelin, in both bull and ram abomasums. Immunoreactivity for OB‐R was present in luminal and glandular cell, parietal cell cytoplasms, and blood vessels. Immunoreactivity for GHS‐R, on the other hand, was found in glandular epithelial cell cytoplasms and parietal cell cytoplasms, in both bull and ram abomasums. Leptin immunoreactivity was detected in the glandular epithelial cells and stroma, and particularly in the parietal cells. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was not observed in glandular epithelial cells. Obestatin immunoreactivity was found intensely in the bull abomasum, while moderate immunoreactivity was observed in the ram abomasums. As such, leptin, ghrelin and obestatin hormones were expressed in bull and ram abomasums, similar to the abomasums of other species. It is believed that these hormones play important roles in the digestive system activities and the regulation of energy in bulls and rams.

KARAKOÇ, Z.; KETANI, S.; KETANI, M. A. & KILINÇ, M. Comparative morphometric study of the filiform lingual papilla in the Middle East blind mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring, 1898) and wistar albino rat. Int. J. Morphol., 35(2):552-555, 2017. SUMMARY:This study aimed to reveal the morphometric differences between blind mole rats which live under ground and rats which live under laboratory conditions with regard to the length, base width, keratinization thickness and microscopic papilla depth. For this purpose, 7 adult blind mole rats and 7 adult Wistar albino rats were used in the study. All tongues were removed and fixed in 10 % neutral formalin. 4-5 micrometer of sections were obtained from paraffine sections which were obtained with routine histological follow ups and Crossman's modified triple staining was applied. While papilla length was found as 184.73±26.68 µm, base width 65.46±16.51 µm, keratinization thickness 11.60±1.37 µm, microscopic papilla depth 49.89±8.19 µm in blind rats; these values were found as 177.49±31.44 µm, 50.08±7.57 µm, 13.08±5.32 µm and 89.12±19.31 µm, respectively in rats. While a statistically significant difference was not detected between lengths (p>0.05), the difference between papilla width was found significant (p<0.05). While keratinization was found to be thicker on posterior side compared to anterior side in both species, a difference was not detected between keratinization thickness measurements (p>0.05). The difference between two species with regard to papilla depth was detected to be significant (p<0.001). The finding that papilla depth decreases as base width increases and the difference's being statistically significant suggested that living in different environments with different humidity could be effective on morphologic structures of the tongue in blind mole rats and rats. KARAKOÇ, Z.; KETANI, S.; KETANI, M. A. & KILINÇ, M. Comparative morphometric study of the filiform lingual papilla in the Middle East blind mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, nehring, 1898) and wistar albino rat. Int. J. Morphol., 35(2):552-555, 2017.

KETANI, S.; KARAKOÇ, Z.; KETANI, M. A. & KILINÇ, M.Age-related changes in the expression of ICAM-1 in the aorta of Wistar albino rats. Int. J. Morphol., 34(4):1482Morphol., 34(4): -1486Morphol., 34(4): , 2016. SUMMARY:ICAM-1 which is expressed by endothelial cells and leukocytes are observed as first markers in diseases such as transplant rejection, diabetes and atherosclerosis and in infections caused by various pathogens. In the present study, it is aimed to reveal the age-related changes in the expression of ICAM-1 on rats. Therefore, a total of 30 albino rats were taken at the age of 6, 18 and 24 months without gender discrimination. Rats were fed with standard pellet feed during the study. Afterwards, rats were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected from their rats, and the samples were evaluated under the light microscope by staining with immnunohistochemical method. It was determined that the expression of both aortic endothelial cells and endothelial cells in the media layer had been significantly increased based on the age.