Differantial distribution of cytokeratin, laminin, desmin and vimentin from intermediate filaments in cow and sheep tongue

Aim: The aim of this study was to immunohistochemically investigate the changes in the distribution of cytokeratin filaments CK8, 18 and 19 and vimentin, laminin and desmin intermediate filaments in cow and sheep tongues. Material and Method: In the study, 10 tongues taken from 24-month-old male and female sheep and cows during daily slaughter in private slaughterhouses serving in Tekirdağ and Diyarbakır provinces were used. All tissue samples used were fixed in a %10 formol- alcohol solution for 18 hours and then the tissues were passed through routine histological stages and blocked in paraffin. Serial sections 5 micrometers were taken from the paraffin blocks and these sections were firstly stained with Crossman's Triple staining to show the general structure of the tongue, and then immunohistochemical staining method was aapplied to determine cytokeratin, vimentin, laminin and desmin. Results: As a result of the immunohistochemical observation, it was determined that there was a similar density and distribution of the cytokeratins, but different intensities and localization of vimentin, laminin and desmin. In particular, it was observed that the reaction was localized in serous acini and canal epithelium for cytokeratins, in connective tissue, endothelium, muscles and serous acini for vimentin and laminin and in the striated and smooth muscles for desmin. Conclusion: Our present results in this study showed that ck8, 18, 19 and vimentin, desmin antibodies were not present in the epithelium of cow and sheep tongues. Thus, the finding that the diverse cytokeratins are expressed in specific sets of polypeptides that are characteristic of certain cell types allows us to distinguish and classify epithelial cells with respect to their spesific cytokeratin pattern. Moreover, we may say that vimentin was located in tissues or organs of mesodermal origin, desmin was located in muscle tissue, and laminin play important roles in the formation, structure and stability of the basement membrane, nerve tissue regeneration and innervation of epithelial taste buds, as well as separating and connecting different tissues (parenchymal and interstitial connective tissues). Therefore, our research may form a basis for studies on biological mechanisms of epithelial differentiation, especially during development, evailuation of pathological situations and inflammation processes. In addition, our findings may contribute to the studies that will design the structure, function and dynamics of the intermediate filaments in the context of cellular and tissue with more systematic molecular biological techniques.