Endocrine cells of mucosa epithelium in distal area of the intestine in domestic pigeon
Kostiukevich, S.V.
Morfologiia 123(3): 74-78
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1026-3543 PMID: 12942832 Document Number: 554204
The epithelium of mucosa in the distal portion of the intestine of domestic pigeon (Columba livia var domestica) was studied using the methods of light and electron microscopy. In the epithelium of the studied portions of the intestine, argentaffin cells are distributed relatively uniformly. A certain variation in the number of endocrine cells has been marked in individual birds which is probably associated with functional lability of the endocrine apparatus of pigeon colon. In the epithelium of colon mucosa five different types of endocrinocytes have been detected ultrastructurally: EC-, L-, D-, D1- and the fifth type which could not be precisely identified by the use of electron microscopy alone. A characteristic feature of most types of colon endocrinocytes in the pigeon is a smaller diameter of granules, in comparison with similar cells of hens. Endocrinocytes in the epithelium of pigeon colon mucosa have some structural features usually observed in a state of high functional activity.