Eur J Anat, 7 (1): 9-13 (2003)

Dendritic cells in the tongue and oesophagus of laboratory guinea pig, rat, and rabbit: A light micposcopic zinc iodide-osmium study

Koshy S., Indrasingh I., Vettivel S.

Department of Anatomy, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India; Department of Anatomy, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632 002, India

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells have been demonstrated in human and animal epithelium and subepithelial tissue. The present study used zinc iodide-osmium, which revealed dendritic cells in the epithelium and subepithelial tissue of tongue and oesophagus specimens of the laboratory guinea pig, rat, and rabbit. In guinea pig and rat tongue, basal and suprabasal dendritic cells were located in the epithelium of the dorsal surface. In rabbit tongue, suprabasal cells, without dendritic processes, were found in the epithelium of the dorsal surface. In the subepithelial tissue, dendritic cells were present; a few dendritic cells were found in the subepithelial tissue of the ventral surface. Dendritic cells were not found within the cornified layer of the epithelium. In guinea pig and rat oesophagus, basal columnar cells, without dendritic processes, were present in the epithelium. In rabbit oesophagus, basal cells, without dendritic processes, were seen in the epithelium; the subepithelial tissue showed dendritic cells. The cells, without evident processes, are probably not yet of typical, mature phenotype.

Keywords: iodide, osmium, unclassified drug, zinc iodide, animal cell, animal tissue, article, basal cell, cell maturation, cell surface, cell ultrastructure, cellular distribution, columnar epithelium, controlled study, dendritic cell, epithelium cell, esophagus, esophagus mucosa, guinea pig, keratinocyte, laboratory diagnosis, microscopic anatomy, nonhuman, phenotype, rabbit, tongue