Conjunctiva Associated Lymphoid Tissue in the Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

BAYRAKTAROĞLU A. G., Korkmaz D., Asti R. N., KURTDEDE N., Altunay H.

KAFKAS UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.89-94, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2011
  • Dergi Adı: KAFKAS UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.89-94
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: CALT, FAE, M cell, Ostrich, M-CELLS, CALT, ANATOMY
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study was aimed at the investigation of the structure of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) in the ostrich (Struthio camelus). The upper and lower eyelids of 5 healthy adult ostriches obtained from a slaughterhouse constituted the material of the study. Aggregated lymphoid follicles occupied a large area beneath the fibrous flap in the lower palpebral conjunctiva, while their distribution in the upper palpebral conjunctiva was observed to be limited to regions near the nasolacrimal punctum. Light microscopic examination revealed the conjunctival epithelium to differ between non-lymphoid and lymphoid regions. Non-lymphoid regions had pseudostratified prismatic epithelium containing goblet cells. Follicle associated epithelium (FAE) in lymphoid regions was composed of single-layered squamous epithelium without goblet cells. Aggregated and/or solitary lymphoid follicles were present in the subepithelium. Dome area, germinal centre, corona and interfollicular region were able to be distinguished in lymphoid follicles. Furthermore, interfollicular regions contained high endothelial venules, which are involved in lymphocyte migration. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated that FAE was closely associated with immune system cells. Cells, which resembled typical M cells in having short, thick apical micro-folds and vesicles, were present in the FAE. In the present study, the structure of CALT was demonstrated in the ostrich (Struthio camelus), based on macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural findings.