ENDOCRINE CELLS OF MUCOSAL EPITHELIUM IN THE DISTAL PART OF INTESTINE
OF LACERTA VIVIPARA
S. V. Kostioukevitch
I. I. Mechnikov State Medical Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia;
e-mail: KSV@SK2945.spb.edu
The epithelium of the distal part of intestine of the lizard Lacerta vivipara has been studied by light and
electron microscopy. The total number of endocrinocytes (argyrophilic cells) was found to increase from small bowel (57±cell/mm2)
to colon (96±9), and cloaca (99±8). Although the number of argentaffin cells increases from the small bowel to colon, cell decrease occurs
from colon (42±6 cell/mm2) to cloaca (65±10 cell/mm2). On electronograms of the colon mucosal epithelium
four types of endocrinocytes were identified. Type I - with secretory granules polymorphic for the size and form, with a high electron density
core, and average size 206±31 nm. Type II - with secretory granules 265±20 nm in size, having spherical form and highly electronic dense
contents. Type III - contains largest (350±12 nm), spherical, oval or irregularly-shaped secretory granules, with contents of various electronic
density. Type IV - endocrine cells having small (176±5 nm) spherical or oval secretory granules with a highly electronic dense core.
Besides, "mixed" cells were identified, whose cytoplasm contained simultaneously mucous and endocrinous granules.
Key words: lizards, colon, epithelium, endocrinous cells
Back
Contents
Main
