1Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Assam, India
2Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Assam, India
3Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Assam, India
4Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Assam, India
*Corresponding Author: C.K. Gautam, Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Assam, India, Email: drckgautam26@aau.ac.in
Online published on 24 June, 2025.
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in pig comprises the Peyer's patches (PP) in the small intestine and solitary lymphoid nodules (SLN) in the large intestine. The dome epithelium that lines the lymphoid follicles of PP and SLN is specially designed for the uptake of gut luminal antigen where M cell is the principal cell type responsible for antigen uptake and processing.
In porcine, the M cells were detected in cryosections with the help of FITC-labelled anti-cytokeratin-18 antibody.
The relative distribution pattern of this cell type reflected the possible difference in the microbial environment and, necessity of protective or tolerogenic response against the gut luminal antigens in small and large intestines. It also revealed the preferred location of uptake of mucosal antigen. The number of M cells was highest in the ileum and rectum in the small and large intestine respectively. These cells were mainly confined to the follicle-associated epithelium of the intestinal lymphoid aggregated. However, M cells were also observed in absorptive villi epithelium and in the villi epithelium where lamina propria lymphocytes were more in number.
Cytokeratin, Immunohistochemistry, M-cell, Peyer's patch, Solitary lymphoid nodule
