Histological Study on APUD Cells During Prenatal and Postnatal Period in Sheep

Abstract

Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation (APUD) cells which demonstrably arises from the neural crest cells and they are the precursors of all the endocrine polypeptide cells of the adult pancreas, stomach, small and large intestine. Morphological changes of APUD cells were studied during foetal and postnatal development in sheep by special histological method. Tissue samples from liver, pancreas, gall bladder, lungs, stomach and intestine were collected from sheep foetuses in mid and late gestational period and from post-natal age group of 4-6 months from local abattoir. Samples were fixed in 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin and Bouin’s fixative and processed by routine paraffin embedding method. Tissue sections of 5-6 μm thickness were cut and subjected to H & E and special staining methods. APUD cells in various parts of digestive and respiratory system were localized by the method of masked metachromasia to toluidine blue. The cells were also confirmed by lead haemaoxylene and argyrophilic stain. APUD cells were comparatively more in number in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas in the post-natal period than the foetal life. These diffuse neuroendocrine system is to be regarded as a third division of nervous system whose products suppress, amplify and modulate the activities of the other two divisions of the nervous system.