An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of Segi's cap, a large aggregation of gut endocrine cells, in bovine fetuses.

Abstract

Segi's cap, a large aggregation of basal-granulated cells at the top of the intestinal villus, was studied in the proximal small intestine of bovine fetuses by histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. 1) Typical Segi's caps were seen in the duodenum and proximal jejunum in bovine fetuses. 2) Smaller groups of basal-granulated cells were found in the villous and partly also in the cryptal epithelium, as well as in the subepithelial lamina propria. The possible mechanism for their occurrence was discussed in connection with the fate of the cap. 3) Segi's caps were present in a neonatal calf before the suckling stage, but not in 3 or 4 week-old calves. The process of and reason for this abrupt disappearance of the caps are unknown. 4) The Segi's cap in bovine fetuses consisted mainly of argyrophil cells as demonstrated by Grimelius' and Hellerström-Hellman's silver methods. Only a few argentaffin cells were found in fetal caps using a modified Masson-Hamperl's silver method. 5) Immunohistochemically, somatostatin-, gastrin-, motilin- and secretin-immunoreactive cells were identified. 6) Four different endocrine cell types could be distinguished in the bovine Segi's cap on the basis of the ultrastructural appearance of their secretory granules.