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Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
Volume 51 (11): 1533-1544, 2003
Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc.

Vimentin-positive Cells in the Epithelium of Rabbit Ileal Villi Represent Cup Cells but not M-cells

Carolina Ramirez and Andreas Gebert

Institute of Anatomy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (CR,AG), and Faculty of Biology, National University of Colombia, Bogota, Colombia (CR)

Correspondence to: Prof. Dr. A. Gebert, Inst. of Anatomy, University of Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. E-mail: gebert{at}anat.uni-luebeck.de

Membranous (M)-cells are specialized epithelial cells of the Peyer's patch domes that transport antigens from the intestinal lumen to the lymphoid tissue. Vimentin is a reliable marker for M-cells in rabbits. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), a subpopulation of epithelial cells has recently been identified in ordinary rabbit ileal villi, which are vimentin-positive and share morphological characteristics with the M-cells of the domes. To test the hypothesis that these cells represent M-cells outside the organized lymphoid tissue, lectin labeling and tracer uptake experiments were performed. Lectins specific for N-acetyl-glucosamine oligomers selectively bound to the vimentin-positive villous cells but not to M-cells in the domes. Microbeads instilled into the ileal lumen were taken up by M-cells within 45 min but not by the vimentin-positive cells in the villi. Lectin–gold labeling on ultrathin sections revealed that the lectin binding sites were located in the brush border and in vesicles in the apical cytoplasm. The vimentin/lectin-positive cells shared ultrastructural characteristics with the so-called "cup cells." We conclude (a) that the vimentin-positive cells in ordinary villi represent cup cells but not M-cells, (b) that they are readily detectable by (GlucNAc)N-specific lectins, and (c) that they do not transcytose experimental tracers. Although the specific function of cup cells is still obscure, they most probably represent a cell type distinct from M-cells of the domes with respect to both function and expression of the two new markers. (J Histochem Cytochem 51:1533–1544, 2003)

Key Words: M-cell • cup cell • vimentin • lectin histochemistry • gut • rabbit


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