Distribution and Morphology of Ghrelin-Immunopositive Cells in the Lung of the African Ostrich
Distribution and Morphology of Ghrelin-Immunopositive Cells in the Lung of the African Ostrich
Xiaoting Zhang1,2, Jiaxiang Wang1,2,*, Peng Li1,2,* and Lixun Ye1,2
ABSTRACT
Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, has been identified in the lung of many vertebrates. While ghrelin-immunopositive (ghrelin-ip) cells have been found in the cerebellum, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus), little is known about its distribution in the lung of the African ostrich. To provide the morphological basis of ghrelin function in the African ostrich lung, the distribution and morphological characteristics of ghrelin-ip cells were investigated using immunohistochemistry. The results indicate that the lung of African ostrich was composed of interstitial tissue and parenchyma. The interstitial tissue formed a layer of serosa on the surface of the lung. The parenchyma of the lung consisted of bronchial levels, atria and respiratory capillaries. The bronchi were divided into the primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi. The wall of the tertiary bronchus had openings for the atria and respiratory capillaries. The respiratory capillaries were surrounded by a rich blood capillary bed. Ghrelin-ip cells were located among the tertiary bronchus mucosal epithelial cells, respiratory capillary epithelial cells and macrophages. The ghrelin-ip cells showed cytoplasmic staining, they were cone, oval, spindle, round or irregular in shape and tended to be restricted to a single cell. These results demonstrate the presence of ghrelin-ip cells in the lung of the African ostrich and therefore it is speculated that ghrelin may have a physiological function in the lung of the African ostrich.
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February 2018
Vol. 50, Iss. 1, Pages 1-400
