Chromogranin in bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine cells. Immunocytochemical detection in human, monkey, and pig respiratory mucosa.

Abstract

Immunoreactive chromogranin A was demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in the cytoplasm of neuroendocrine cells (NEC) and neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) in human, monkey, and pig respiratory mucosa. Three different antisera (one monoclonal and one polyclonal to human chromogranin A, and one polyclonal to bovine chromogranin A) were applied in this study. Chromogranin immunopositivity varied in extent and intensity according to the antiserum applied and the tissue investigated. The monoclonal antibody revealed the strongest immunoreaction. Good correlation between chromogranin immunoreactivity and Grimelius silver staining was observed by comparing adjacent sections, although more cells seemed to reveal chromogranin immunoreactivity than argyrophylia. Chromogranin appears to be a useful histological marker for APUD cells in the respiratory mucosa of several species.