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Occluding junctions in the epithelia of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of the rabbit ileum and caecum

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Summary

The zonulae occludentes of the dome epithelia and adjacent non-dome epithelia in four locations of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in the rabbit ileum and caecum (Peyer's patches, sacculus rotundus, caecal lymphoid patches, appendix) were studied in freeze-fracture replicas. In all locations the zonulae occludentes of the dome epithelium are composed of more junctional strands than in the corresponding non-dome epithelium. In the dome epithelia of Peyer's and caecal lymphoid patches the zonulae occludentes show considerable structural variation; the number of superimposed strands is ∼10 (range 5–18). In the dome epithelia of sacculus rotundus and appendix, in addition to zonulae occludentes, extended networks of junctional strands (fasciae occludentes) are present particularly between M-cells and enterocytes. The zonulae occludentes consist of ∼8 to 9 (range 5–15) superimposed strands; the fasciae occludentes extend up to a depth of 20μm on the lateral membranes. The presence of the fasciae occludentes correlates with the appearance of regularly shaped clusters of lymphocytes, which are most developed in the dome epithelia of sacculus rotundus and appendix. These results suggest (1) that in contrast to the dome epithelia of Peyer's and caecal lymphoid patches those of sacculus rotundus and appendix are compartmentalized, and (2) that the mobility of lymphocytes and diffusion of antigens in the dome epithelia of sacculus rotundus and appendix is restricted.

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  1. Andreas Gebert

    Present address: Anatomische Anstalt, Lehrstuhl II, Universität München, W-8000, München, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. Abteilung Zellbiologie und Elektronenmikroskopie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Postfach 610 180, W-3000, Hannover 61, Federal Republic of Germany

    Andreas Gebert & Helmut Bartels

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Gebert, A., Bartels, H. Occluding junctions in the epithelia of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of the rabbit ileum and caecum. Cell Tissue Res 266, 301–314 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318186

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