神经内分泌细胞在鸭胸腺中的表达特征

应用免疫组化技术并结合图像分析软件研究了β-内啡肽、胃泌素、胰高血糖素、5-羟色胺、血管活性肠肽、神经肽Y、生长抑素细胞在鸭胸腺中的表达特征。结果显示：7种神经内分泌细胞在胸腺中呈强阳性表达;β-内啡肽阳性细胞在皮质部较多,而胃泌素、胰高血糖素、5-羟色胺、血管活性肠肽、神经肽Y、生长抑素阳性细胞在髓质和皮髓质交界区的数量高于皮质部;除胰高血糖素外,其余6种神经内分泌激素在胸腺小体中呈不同程度的阳性反应。本试验结果说明,鸭胸腺不仅是中枢免疫器官,而且具有重要的神经内分泌功能;β-内啡肽阳性细胞在T淋巴细胞的发育中发挥重要作用;胃泌素、胰高血糖素、5-羟色胺、生长抑素、血管活性肠肽、神经肽Y阳性细胞在髓质部和皮髓质交界区的表达有利于其通过内分泌、自分泌或旁分泌方式调节T细胞的发育。同时,也探讨了胸腺小体的功能。

Expression patterns of neuroendocrine cells in the duck thymus

The expression patterns of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),gastrin(Gas),β-endorphin(End),somatostatin(SS),vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP),glucagon(Glu) and neuropeptide Y(NPY)-positive cells in the duck thymus were studied by the immunohistochemical method associated with image analysis.The result shows that these 7 kinds of neuroendocrine cells with strong intensity were differentially detected in the duck thymus.The End-positive cells were abundantly expressed in the thymic cortex,whereas the Gas,5-HT,SS,VIP,Glu and NPY ones were more frequent in the medullary and around the corticomedullary junction.Except Glu,the other 6 kinds of neuroendocrine substances with various intensity were expressed in the cells of thymic corpuscles.The observation demonstrated that the duck thymus is not only a primary lymphatic organ,but also has important neuroendocrine functions.The End-positive cells in the thymus may play crucial roles in the development of immature T-lymphocytes.The neuroendocrine cells with a predominant distribution in the medulla and around the corticomedullary junction might facilitate exerting their influence via an endocrine,autocrine or paracrine pathways on the function of mature T-cells.The possible roles of thymic corpuscles are also discussed.