Granular mucosal lymphocytes in porcine small intestine
Chu, R.M.; Wang, S.H.; Du, Y.H.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 49(9): 1456-1459
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 3223652 Document Number: 306632
A subpopulation of purified, interepithelial lymphocytes from porcine small intestinal mucosa contained cytoplasmic granules. Toluidine blue staining revealed metachromatic granules in 13.64% (606/4,450) cells. The cells had scant organelles, a single large nucleus with obvious invagination of the nuclear membrane, and prominent chromatin. Each cell contained 1 to 10 cytoplasmic membrane-bound granules, 0.6 to 1.5 microns in diameter. These findings indicated that the granular mucosal lymphocytes are related morphologically to mucosal mast cells. The presence of serotonin in the granules, confirmed by the serotonin releasing test, provided functional evidence that granular mucosal lymphocytes are related to mucosal mast cells.