Distributive and Phagocytic Characteristics of Hepatic Macrophages in Five Cetaceans belonging to Delphinidae and Ziphiidae

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

Jyoji YAMATE²  Masako NAKANISHI²  Maki KAWASHIMA²  Mitsuru KUWAMURA²  Motohiro TAKEYA¹ 

[1] Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University;Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University

关键词: cetacean;    Kupffer cell;    lipofuscin;    phagocytosis;    zonal distribution;   

DOI  :  10.1292/jvms.66.671

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Japanese Society of Veterinary Science

【 摘 要 】

References(33)Cited-By(2)Details of morphology and distribution of hepatic macrophages in cetaceans were investigated using the immunohistochemistry with an antibody (SRA-E5) generated against human macrophage scavenger receptor antigen. Liver samples were obtained from five species of cetaceans (Baird's beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, Risso's dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and pantropical spotted dolphins). Except for two species of whales, the number of SRA-E5-positive Kupffer cells was greatest in the perivenous zone (zone 3), followed by the mid-zonal (zone 2) and periportal (zone 1) zones; this distribution pattern was different from that in cattle examined here and previously reported rodents with the highest number in zone 1. The frequency of Kupffer cell in each of zones was significantly different among species, and interestingly, the total mean of the Kupffer cell number in three zones increased as the body-length of species was small. In cetaceans, Kupffer cells in zone 1 appeared larger and more stellate in shape, whereas those in zone 3 were smaller and rounder. All cetaceans but Baird's beaked whales had the black pigment-containing Kupffer cells, with the greatest number in zone 3, and macrophages with the similar pigments were also seen in the hepatic intermediate septa, indicating an active phagocytosis. Most of the black pigments were considered to be lipofuscin and such pigments were not seen in the bovine livers. These results indicate that cetacean hepatic macrophages show differences in the distribution and phagocytosis among hepatic lobular zones, or between cetacean species and terrestrial animals.

【 授权许可】

Unknown