Distribution and morphology of argyrophilic cells in the digestive tract of the African ostrich.
We used light microscopy to elucidate the morphological features of argyrophilic cells in the digestive tract of the African ostrich (Struthio camelus). The results indicated that argyrophilic cells were found to be distributed among the epithelial cells of the mucosa or glands throughout the digestive tract, except for the esophagus; two types of argyrophilic cells were found; i.e., closed-type cells and cells with triangular or elongated shapes and with their apical cytoplasmic process in contact with the lumen (open-type cells); the greatest number of argyrophilic cells was found in the proventriculus, and the argyrophilic cell density gradually decreased from the proventriculus to the rectum; Furthermore, the number of argyrophilic cells in the duodenum and ileum was higher than that in the jejunum. This text still combined the characteristics that the argyrophilic cells in digestive tract of ostrich maybe related to different digestive function of different region and the basis of their morphology to carry on a discussion. It was speculated that argyrophilic cells in the digestive tract may have both endocrine and exocrine functions.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
Jia-xiang
JX
Wang
Ke-mei
KM
Peng
Hua-zhen
HZ
Liu
Hui
H
Song
Xi
X
Chen
Liu
L
Min
D001078:APUD Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D016622:Silver Staining; D013045:Species Specificity; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology