Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Short communication
Published online: 2003-09-05
Preliminary comparative immunocytochemical study of respiratory tract endocrine cells in certain rodents
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):411-413.
Abstract
Studies were performed on 3 species belonging to two families: Microtidae
(7 common voles and 7 pine voles), and Muridae - 10 Wistar rats. In rodents
the airways endocrine cells (ECs) are localised in the epithelium lining the larynx,
trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and lung. CGRP-, synaptophysin (SY)-, calcitonin
(CT)-, neuron-specific enolase (NSE)- and chromogranin A (CA)- immunoreactivity
were nearly totally co-localised in ECs. In the region of the tracheo-larynx
junction, CGRP- and NSE-positive cells were observed in the epithelium of the
glands. It is surmised that some of the CGRP-positive ECs do not generate CT
and CA, for the most part in ECs. In Microtidae ECs were more abundant than in
the rat and were found even in the epithelium lining of the inside larynx in the
transition region before the trachea.
Keywords: rodents endocrine cellslarynxtrachealungimmunocytochemistry