The structural properties of vimentin positive cells in the ileum epithelium of Angora rabbit

Abstract

The study was projected to determine immunohistochemically vimentin positive cells by using anti-vimentin primary antibody, to eludicate ultrastructurally the morphological properties of these cells and, to examined the presence of villous M cells in villi epithelia. In this study, ten healthy, adult Angora rabbits were used as a material. It was examined the ileum with and without Peyer's patches. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the mature and immature M cells within FAE's and cup cells within epithelium of villi exibitcd the positive vimentin immunoreactivity. Electron microscopical examination revealed the mature M cells surrounded the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) by a basolateral invagination. Whereas, immature M cells and cup cells were observed to be associated with one or two intraepithelial lymphocytes without such a pocketing. No villous M cells were found within epithelia of ileal villi. In conclusion, the cup cells are similar to immature M cells associated with IEL without a intraepithelial pocketing and showed a vimentin positive immunoreaction within their cytoplasms, but these cells are not villous M cells or enterocytes.