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BRANCHING MONONUCLEAR CELLS IN THE FORESTOMACH EPITHELIUM OF THE SHEEP
Author(s) -
Steven D. H.,
Marshall A. B.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1972.sp002161
Subject(s) - epithelium , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , biology , ultrastructure , blood stream , microbiology and biotechnology , basal (medicine) , pathology , anatomy , in vitro , biochemistry , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , insulin
Branching cells are distributed at irregular intervals throughout the basal layers of the forestomach epithelium of sheep and certain other ruminants. In size, shape and ultrastructural appearance they are markedly different from the epithelial cells which surround them; there is, moreover, clear evidence to suggest that they are capable of amoeboid movement. Branching cells have many characteristics in common with leucocytes of the mononuclear series, and in particular with the monocyte of circulating blood. It appears that their most probable function is the interception of small quantities of antigenic material which have passed through defects in the absorption barrier into the intercellular space.