目的:比较藏羚羊和藏绵羊小肠黏膜结构和黏膜免疫相关细胞的特征.方法:采用组织学、组织化学方法和图像分析法在光镜和电镜水平对5只藏羚羊和5只藏绵羊小肠不同肠段的黏膜结构进行观测,并对上皮内淋巴细胞、杯状细胞和肥大细胞的数量进行统计分析.结果:藏羚羊小肠各段绒毛长度和绒毛长度与隐窝深度比值(villus length/crypt depth,V/C)均显著高于藏绵羊(P〈0.05),其中藏羚羊十二指肠、空肠和回肠的绒毛长度分别比藏绵羊高77.25%(P〈0.05)、63.61%(P〈0.05)和35.38%(P〈0.05),而V/C值分别比藏绵羊高65.63%(P〈0.05)、20.08%(P〈0.05)和35.68%(P〈0.05),藏羚羊小肠黏膜的厚度显著大于藏绵羊(P〈0.05),而藏羚羊和藏绵羊小肠肌层厚度差异不显著(P〉0.05);藏羚羊小肠各段上皮内杯状细胞和肥大细胞数量显著多于藏绵羊(P〈0.05),其中藏羚羊十二指肠、空肠和回肠中的上皮内杯状细胞数量分别比藏绵羊的多12.84%(P〈0.05)、49.88%(P〈0.05)和5.58%(P〉0.05),藏羚羊十二指肠、空肠和回肠中的肥大细胞的数量比藏绵羊的分别多0.22%(P〉0.05)、6.04%(P〉0.05)和160.80%(P〈0.05),而藏羚羊小肠各段上皮内淋巴细胞数量显著低于藏绵羊(P<0.05),其中藏羚羊十二指肠、空肠和回肠的上皮内淋巴细胞数量分别比藏绵羊的少35.04%(P〈0.05)、52.85%(P〈0.05)和52.82%(P〈0.05).结论:藏羚羊小肠消化吸收功能强于藏绵羊,藏羚羊的小肠黏膜免疫屏障功能也强于藏绵羊,且在藏羚羊小肠杯状细胞和肥大细胞起重要的黏膜防御功能,而在藏绵羊小肠中上皮内淋巴细胞起重要的黏膜免疫屏障功能.
AIM:To compare the characteristics of small intestinal mucosal structure and mucosal immunity-associated cells between Tibetan antelopes and Tibetan sheep. METHODS:The morphological characteristics of small intestinal mucosal structure were observed under light microscope and electron microscope. The numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes(IELs), goblet cells(GCs) and mast cells(MCs) in different parts of small intestine were also analyzed by the techniques of histological/histochemical methods and the Scion Image software between Tibetan antelopes(n=5) and Tibetan sheep(n=5). RESULTS:The length of small intestine villi and the ratio of villus length to crypt depth(V/C value) of the Tibetan antelopes were significantly higher than those of the Tibetan sheep(P〈0.05). The length of the villi in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of the Tibetan antelopes was higher than that of the Tibetan sheep by 77.25%(P〈0.05), 63.61%(P〈0.05) and 35.38%(P〈0.05), respectively, while V/C the ratio of villus length to crypt depth(V/C value) of duodenum, jejunum and ileum in Tibetan antelopes was higher than that in the Tibetan sheep by 65.63%(P〈0.05), 20.08%(P〈0.05) and 35.68%(P〈0.05), respectively. The thickness of intestinal mucosa in the Tibetan antelopes was significantly greater than that in the Tibetan sheep(P〈0.05). No significant difference of intestinal muscle thickness between the Tibetan antelopes and the Tibetan sheep was observed(P〉0.05). The numbers of GCs and MCs in different parts of small intestine in the Tibetan antelopes were obviously higher than those in the Tibetan sheep(P〈0.05). The number of GCs in duodenum, jejunum and ileum in the Tibetan antelopes were higher than that in the Tibe-tan sheep by 12.84%(P〈0.05), 49.88%(P〈0.05) and 5.58%(P〉0.05), respectively, while the number of MCs in duodenum, jejunum and ileum in the Tibetan antelopes was higher than that in the Tibetan sheep by 0.22%(P〉0.05), 6.04