PANETH CELL GRANULE OF MOUSE INTESTINE

Abstract

Pieces of small intestine 17 cm from the pylorus were removed from adult male mice and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Paraffin sections were cut at 2[mu]. Histochemical techniques were used to identify specific end-groups of proteins and polysaccharides. The Paneth granules as demonstrated by the presence of various end-groups of protein were characteristically surrounded by a conspicuous clear "halo". Only the "halo" stained following methods specific for localization of acid mucopolysaccharides. The protein-rich granules were PAS positive. It was concluded that the Paneth cell secretory granule is a poly-saccharide-protein complex surrounded by an acid mucopolysaccharide capsule.