The study of microanatomy of intestinal epithelium in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

Document Type : Short paper

Authors

1 Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and Embriology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

2 Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China

3 Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413, Canary Islands, Spain

Abstract

The microanatomy of the intestinal epithelium in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (CST) was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The small intestinal epithelium (SIE) was single layered or pseudostratified. The enterocytes contained mitochondria or mitochondria and lipid droplets. The enterocytes were arranged tightly in the apical parts of epithelium and connected by desmosomes and interdigitations. The large intestinal epithelium (LIE) was pseudostratified and the enterocytes did not contain lipid droplets. Enterocytes were arranged compactly in the apical part, forming spaces in the middle and basal parts of epithelium. Numerous mucous cells were scattered in the epithelium and there were intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) with their pseudopodia extended into the intestinal lumen. This study provides detailed features of intestinal epithelium in the Pelodiscus sinensis that could be related to function. In addition, these findings are discussed in relation to other vertebrates.

Keywords


Bai, XY and Che, FX (1999). Advances on mucosal immune. Foreign Medical Sciences (Immunology Section). 22: 255-259.
Bao, HJ; Liu, Y; Qin, JH; Xu, CS; Hei, NN; Jaber, JR and Chen, QS (2011). An immunohistochemical study of S-100 protein in the intestinal tract of Chinese soft-shelled turtle. Res. Vet. Sci., 91: 16-24.
Bian, X; Zhang, L; Yang, L; Yang, P; Ullah, S; Zhang, Q and Chen, Q (2013). Ultrastructure of epididymal epithelium and its interaction with the sperm in the soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. Micron. 54-55: 65-74.
Komoto, S; Miura, S; Koseki, S; Goto, M; Hachimura, S; Fujimori, H; Hokari, R; Hara, Y; Ogino, T; Watanabe, C; Nagata, H; Kaminogawa, S; Hibi, T and Ishii, H (2005). Effect of specific antigen stimulation on intraepithelial lymphocyte migration to small intestinal mucosa. Clin. Exp. Immunol., 140: 249-257.
Kraut, S; Fischer, D; Heuser, W and Lierz, M (2013). Laser therapy in a soft-shelled turtle for the treatment of skin and shell ulceration. Tierarztl Prax. Ausg. K. Kleintiere Heimtiere. 41: 261-266.
Lignot, JH; Helmstetter, C and Secor, SM (2005). Postprandial morphological response of the intestinal epithelium of the Burmese python. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol., 141: 280-291.
Liu, L; Cao, Z; Lin, F; Ye, XP and Xu, Y (2015). Partial sequence of a novel virus isolated from Pelodiscus sinensis hemorrhagic disease. Intervirology. 58: 197-204.
Solas, MT and Zapata, A (1980). Gut-associated lymphoid tissue in reptiles: intraepithelial cells. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 4: 87-97.
Starck, JM; Cruz-Neto, AP and Abe, AS (2007). Physiological and morphological responses to feeding in broad-nosed caiman (Caiman latirostris). J. Exp. Biol., 210: 2033-2045.
Veazey, RS; Rosenzweig, M; Shvetz, DE; Pauley, DR; DeMaria, M; Chalifoux, LV; Jonson, RP and Lackner, AA (1997). Characterization of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of normal rhesus machaques. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 82: 230-242.
Vega-López, MA; Arenas-Contreras, G; Bailey, M; González-Pozos, S; Stokes, CR; Ortega, MG and Mondragón-Flores, R (2001). Development of intra-epithelial cells in the porcine small intestine. Dev. Immunol., 8: 147-158.
Von Allmen, CE; Bauer, M; Dietmeier, K; Buser, RB; Gwerder, M; Muntwiler, S; Utzinger, S; Saudan, P; Bachmann, MF and Beerli, RR (2008). Identiļ¬cation of Ly-6K as a novel marker for mouse plasma cells. Mol. Immunol., 45: 2727-2733.
Xie, ZJ; Liu, WQ; He, YC; Zhang, ZB and Zhao, Y (1997). Morphology studies on intestinal intraepithelial lympho-cytes of mice in mucosal immune response. Acta Anatomica Sinica. 28: 309-313.
Xu, CS; Yang, P; Bao, HJ; Bian, XG and Chen, QS (2013). Ultrastructure of nephron in the Pelodiscus sinensis. Micron. 44: 451-462.