Seasonal exploration of ultrastructure and Na+/K+-ATPase, Na+/K+/2Cl– cotransporter of mitochondria-rich cells in the small intestine of turtles

Publication date: Available online 29 August 2019Source: MicronAuthor(s): Waseem Ali Vistro, Imran Tarique, Abdul Haseeb, Ping Yang, Yufei Huang, Hong Chen, Xuebing Bai, Surfaraz Ali Fazlani, Qiusheng ChenAbstractDespite the exploration of mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) in different animal classes, very limited information has been documented about MRCs in reptiles. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on the cell ultrastructure and ion transport protein activity of MRCs during hibernation and non-hibernation of Chinese soft-shelled turtle’s intestine. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that, during hibernation the high-density cytoplasm of MRCs occupied large cross-sectional area and showed heterogeneous abundance of mitochondria and an expanded extensive tubular system as compared to non-hibernation. During hibernation the cytoplasm of MRCs exhibited more mitochondrial vacuolization, autophagosomes, phagophore formation and well-structured endoplasmic reticulum. During hibernation, MRCs connected with absorptive cells through wide interdigitation, and created tight junction and more desmosomes as compared to non-hibernation. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed, the strong immunopositive reactions and immunosignaling of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) and Na+/K+/2Cl– cotransporter (NKCC) at basolateral region of mucosal surface of intestine during hibernation. However, weak immunopositive reactions and immunosignaling o...
Source: Micron - Category: Biology Source Type: research