title: Characterization of paneth cells in alpacas (Vicugna pacos, Mammalia, Camelidae).
abstract: Paneth cells are secretory epithelial cells of the innate immune system of the intestine of several mammals, including alpacas. Little is known about the latter; thus, in the present study we described the morphology and histochemical characteristics of Paneth cells in healthy fetuses, and young and adult alpacas. For this purpose, samples of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were taken from 6 fetuses at different days of pregnancy (between days 221-330), 66 offsprings (between 0 and 45-days-old) and 5 adult alpacas (>2-years-old). Samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for histological and morphometrical analysis using HE and Masson Trichomićs technique. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify Paneth cells using anti-lysozyme antibody. In addition, the lectinhistochemichal binding-pattern of Paneth celĺs granules was evaluated. Lyzozyme was immunohistochemically detected in the granules of Paneth cells from day 283 of pregnancy in all the small intestinal sections of the studied fetuses. In newborn alpacas Paneth cells were initially found in the duodenum, but the following days (days 18-21 after birth) they were also found in the ileum. Their size gradually increased after birth, but then no significant differences were found. In adult alpacas the number was lower than offsprings. We suggest that Paneth cells early differentiate in the small intestine of alpacas, and the increase in their number during the first two weeks of life strongly support their possible involvement in the intestinal defensive functions against the enteric diseases that occur during the lactancy stage.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Laboratory, Veterinary Medicine School, National University of San Marcos, (UNMSM), San Borja, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: evasquezc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Laboratory, Veterinary Medicine School, National University of San Marcos, (UNMSM), San Borja, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Institute of Tropical and Highland Research Experimental Station IVITA-Huancayo, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junín, Peru.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine School, Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH), Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Néstor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Falcón
authors.affiliation: National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA), La Molina, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.affiliation: Image Analysis Laboratory (LAI), School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Histology and Embryology Department, Veterinary Medicine School, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbeito
authors.affiliation: Histology and Embryology Department, Veterinary Medicine School, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanuzzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004386:Duodenum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007082:Ileum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007583:Jejunum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019879:Paneth Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Alpacas; Immunohistochemistry; Lactancy; Lectinhistochemistry; Morphometry; Paneth cells