title: Ileal tract and Peyer's patch innervation in scrapie-free versus scrapie-affected ovines.
abstract: Ileal Peyer's patches (PPs) are involved early during sheep scrapie infection. This study qualitatively and semi-quantitatively evaluated ileal tract and PP innervation in 29 Sarda ovines of different age, PrP genotype and scrapie status. A prominent network of fibres was detected within PPs, mainly located in interfollicular lymphoid and stromal components. Intrafollicular fibres were rarely observed, with no apparent differences between scrapie-free and scrapie-affected animals, or among ovines carrying different PrP genotypes. In adult sheep, independent of their scrapie status, nerve fibres could be detected infrequently, close to the follicle-associated epithelium. Fibres were also detected within newly formed follicles and intrafollicular microgranulomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marruchella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ligios
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baffoni
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cancedda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demontis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donatucci
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiocchetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clavenzani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lalatta-Costerbosa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Guardo