Immunohistochemical investigation of lung endocrine cells in rat during the postnatal period

Immunohistochemical investigation of lung endocrine cells in ratduring the postnatal periodAli BAYRAKDARFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, ElazığABSTRACTIn the present study eighteen (18) pregnant rat which have been takenfrom University of Firat Experimental Research Centers were used. Aftereuthanasia with ether, tissue samples from lungs of newborn, neonatal 5, 10, 15,20, 25, and 30 days old and adult rats (4 from each groub, totally 32 rats) weretaken and processed for IHC (immunohistochemistry) staining methods.Tissue samples were examined with regard to serotonin, CGRP,calcitonin, CCK, somatostatin and VIP-IR. Serotonin, CGRP, calcitonin, CCK,somatostatin-IR were observed in pulmonary endocrine cells of all rats. Noimmunoreactivity was seen in endocrine cells for VIP. Positive pulmonaryendocrine cells were seen in either solitary (NECs, neuroendocrine cells) orclusters (NEBs, neuroepithelial bodies) form.Serotonin and CGRP-IR cells were high in number in the lung of rats inearly neonatal periods. The number of these immunoreactive cells weredecreased shortly thereafter. Calcitonin, CCK and somatostatin-IR cells were rareand in same dense in all groub.As a conclusion, the present study suggest that serotonin and CGRP maymore effective in neonatal period such as lung development and adaptation toneonatal life.Key Words: Rat, lung, PNEC, IHC