The identification of c-Kit-positive cells in the intestine of chicken

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) has been examined in birds, but the distribution of these cells remains obscure because a suitable marker is lacking. In the present study, the identification and expression of c-Kit-positive cells in the chicken intestine were demonstrated by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry and the expression of the c-Kit gene by real-time quantitative PCR. Two types of cells stained positive for c-Kit mRNA. The first group consisted of spindle-shaped or bipolar cells identified as ICC. The ICC were found at a variety of locations: at the level of the myenteric plexus between the circular and longitudinal muscle and intermingled with smooth muscle cells within muscle bundles in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. The ICC were also identified along the submucosal layer. The second group was composed of round-shaped cells, which resembled mast cells. Mast cells were mainly found in the lamina propria region as well as in the submucosal layer. The expression of the c-Kit gene by real-time quantitative PCR revealed the expression of c-Kit mRNA throughout the lamina muscularis and mucosa of the intestine; however, the quantitation was variable in different regions. This study reveals conclusively for the first time the distribution of ICC, quantifies the expression of c-Kit mRNA in the intestine of adult chicken, and also compares the c-Kit-positive cell types morphologically.

Salmonella Heidelberg reduces nitrergic neurons in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum of broilers

“…Furness (2006) and Lomax et al (2006) reported the ganglionar organization of myenteric neurons on the digestive tube wall in different species of mammals. Yang et al (2012) observed the ganglionic and isolated cell distribution in the ileum of 65 days old broilers. This corroborates with the results observed in this study.…”

“…Yang et al (2012), studying the nitrergic neuron density in the ileum of broilers of 65 days old, found an average of 30.59 neurons per mm 2 in their ileum, while the current study found 24.38 neurons per mm 2 in group C. The number of neurons was described by different researchers from different mammal species in different intestinal segments, and, according to the authors, this fact is associated with the higher functional activity in each segment under study (Miranda-Neto et al, 2001;Furness, 2006). The myenteric plexus responds to different types of stimuli and conditions, whether deleterious or not, changing their chemical characteristics or their functional structure to keep the digestive system homeostasis (Lomax et al, 2006).…”

“…The neurons can be found arranged in ganglia or between fibers that connect the ganglia, depending on the species or digestive tube segment being studied (Matsuo, 1934;Gabella, 1971;Ali and Mclelland, 1979;Molinari et al, 1994;Mello et al, 1996;Germano et al, 2000;Stabille et al, 2000;Yang et al, 2012).…”

“…In birds, reports describing myenteric neurons are still scarce; they are only descriptions of myenteric neurons in the proventriculus of ducks (Molinari et al, 1994), in young chicken of three weeks old, adult chicken of 18 weeks, in small and large intestines Mclelland 1978, 1979) and ileum of 65 days old chicken (Yang et al, 2012).…”

Oncogene-mediated regulation of p53 ISGylation and functions

“…Isg15 is robustly induced by different stimuli, including type 1 IFNs, lipopolysaccharide, viruses, and oncogenes [3-6]. Similar to ubiquitin conjugation, ISGylation of target proteins occurs in a three-step cascade mechanism that involves Isg15-activating E1 enzyme (UBE1L), Isg15-conjugating E2 enzyme (UBCH8), and Isg15 E3 ligase with HERC5 being the main E3 ligase for Isg15 [6-10]. …”