Related Experiment Videos
Microscopic study of the pig ureteral urothelium
F Desgrandchamps1, F Moulinier, B Cochand-Priollet
1Department of Urology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France.
Purpose:
To characterize the structure of normal pig ureteral urothelium.
Materials And Methods:
Normal ureters of adult pigs [Large White] were studied by light microscopy. Cells were stained histochemically for glycogen and mucin with Periodic Acid Shiff and Alcian Blue.
Results:
Pig urothelium has a comparable structure to that of man: transitional epithelium comprising 4 to 5 cell layers. However, several mucinous cells are seen between the urothelial cells.
Conclusions:
The pig ureter differs from human ureter due to the presence of mucinous cells in the ureteral urothelium under normal conditions. This feature must be taken into account in the interpretation of experimental results obtained with this model.