Zur funktionellen Morphologie der Dickdarm-Mukosa von Rind (Bos primigenius f. taurus), Schaf (Ovis ammon f. aries) und Ziege (Capra aegagrus f. hircus)*

Abstract

The mucous membrane of the large intestine of the ox, sheep and goat was studied using light and electron microscopy. The surface epithelium possesses the well-known complement of organelles with a conspicuous number of mitochondria as a source of energy for absorptive activities. Occasionally, brush cells are found in the epithelium; the functional significance of this type of cell is still under discussion. In the present material, electron-lucid spheroids (diameter: 45 x 35 nm), which tend to fuse, appear in the supranuclearly located osmiophilic granules. The structure and appearance of the epithelium cells in the crypts of these species correspond to previous descriptions in other mammals. In the epithelial cells of the deep glandular region, dense accumulations of mainly rounded granules (diameter up to 400 nm) are found apically in the cytoplasm. Their functional significance is still under discussion. Acid phosphatase activity, as a marker enzyme for lysosomes, points to degenerative processes in connection with the physiological death of enterocytes. In contrast, the negative alkaline phosphatase reaction indicates that, according to our findings, the epithelial transport of substances in the large intestine of ruminants--in principle contrary to the situation in the small intestinal enterocytes--occurs without the aid of this enzyme. The demonstrated ATPase activity on the other hand, is related to a primary active ion transport linked with membrane exchange of non-electrolytes in connection with transepithelial events of absorption and secretion in the large intestine.

Tuft cells

“…Sbarbati and Osculati (2005) have recently carried out an extensive survey of the same cell type referred to as brush cells. In the digestive tract, tuft cells are present in the salivary duct (Shackleford & Schneyer, 1971; Sato, 1980, 1982; Hand, 1981; Sato & Miyoshi, 1988; Higashi et al ., 1989; Sato & Miyoshi, 1996, 1997, 1998a,b; Sato et al ., 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004), stomach (Hammond & LaDeur, 1968; Isomäki, 1973; Wattel & Geuze, 1978; Luciano et al ., 1980; Luciano & Real, 1992; Luciano et al ., 1993; Kugler et al ., 1994; Luciano et al ., 2003), gallbladder (Luciano & Real, 1969, 1979, 1990, 1997; Nevalainen, 1977; Luciano et al ., 1981), common bile duct (Riches, 1972; Luciano et al ., 1981; Iseki, 1991), small and large intestine (Trier, 1963; Silva, 1966; Schofield, 1970; Nabeyama & Leblond, 1974; Tsubouchi & Leblond, 1979; Sugimoto et al ., 1983; Trier et al ., 1987; Höfer & Drenckhahn, 1996; Gebhard & Gebert, 1999; Wille, 2 001), and pancreatic duct (Weyrauch & Schnorr, 1976; Kugler et al ., 1994; Höfer & Drenckhahn, 1996, 1998 ) . Such cells have also been reported in lung (Meyrick & Reid, 1968; Luciano et al ., 1969; Hijiya et al ., 1977; Allan, 1978; Filippenko, 1978; Hijiya, 1978; Foliguet & Grignon, 1980; Chang et al ., 1986; Gomi et al ., 1987, 1991; Ito et al ., 1992; Kasper et al ., 1994), the trachea (Rhodin & Dalhamn, 1956; Rhodin, 1959, 1966; Leeson, 1961; Watson & Brinkman, 1964; Luciano et al ., 1968; Jeffery & Reid, 1975; Ishida, 1977; Taira & Shibasaki, 1978; Christensen et al ., 1987...…”

Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Caprine Intestine with Special Reference to Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissues

“…SCANNING electron microscopic studies on intestinal mucosa and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) have been conducted by several researchers like Mebus et 4 in ox, sheep and goat. However, such studies on the intestine and GALT of goat are meagre.…”