Immunohistochemical studies on the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) mammary gland during lactation and non-lactation periods Helal Amr1, Emara Saad2, Alkafafy Mohamed2,3,* 1Department of Anatomy and Embryology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt 2Department of Cytology and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt 3Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Al-Haweiah-21974, Taif, Saudi Arabia *Email: dr_alkafafy@yahoo.com
Online published on 18 April, 2014. Abstract The current study was undertaken to evaluate the validity of immunohistochemistry in the proportional labeling of the diverse components of the lactating and non-lactating mammary gland in the camel (Camelus dromedarius). Paraffin-embedded sections of lactating and non-lactating mammary glands were stained by conventional and histochemical techniques. Primary antibodies against S100, alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and cytokeratin (Ck) were applied on paraffin sections. The spatial distribution of different proteins in the diverse compartments of lactating and non-lactating mammary tissue displayed a variable immunoreactivity (IR). The luminal epithelial cells showed binding sites only for S100 and Ck 8. The myoepithelial cells exhibited either a consistent IR (α-SMA) or variable IR (Ck 5 and S100). In conclusion, the intensity and distribution pattern of all proteins in the lactating gland are greater than in the non-lactating one. The functional relevance of the findings is interpreted. S100 and Ck proteins participate in secretory activities and in maintaining cellular integrity of luminal cells during lactation and non-lactation phases, respectively. Immunolocalisation of α-SMA highlights the contractile capacities of myoepithelial cells reflecting their contractile function, Ck preserves their structural and physiological integrity at different phases, whereas the S100-IR displayed by them, especially during non-lactation phase, may lend support to the notion that myoepithelial cells provide a regenerative potential of the mammary epithelium. Top Keywords Camel, immunohistochemistry, involution, lactation, mammary gland. Top |