• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.531-535
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• 1994

APUD cells in the oviduct of the sheep at standing estrus were localized as paraneurons in the lamina propria sandwiched between this structure and the tunica muscularis by the method of masked metachromasia to toluidine blue after hot mineral acid hydrolysis. These were also confirmed by lead haematoxylin stain and argyrophilia. The oviduct was serialized into 66 zones. Cells were absent in the first and last 2 zones, and most parts of the isthmus. There was however abundant number of APUD cells in the ampulla which were fusiform shaped and were about $5{\mu}m$ width and also in the juncture, where the cells were of a smaller width ($3{\mu}m$) and were quite numerous reaching 180-200 in some zones. It is concluded that peptide secreting cells are numerous in the oviduct and that this may qualify the oviduct as an endocrine organ.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.502-510
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• 1992

Background: Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is a neuronal form of the glycolytic enzyme enolase which was first found in extracts of brain tissue, and later in a variety of APUD cells and neurons of the diffuse endocrine system. SCLC shares many APUD properties with normal neuroendocrine cells. NSE immunostaining and serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker of neuroendocrine differentiation in lung tumors and diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. Methods: NSE immunohistochemical staining was done and at the same time serum NSE levels were measured in 22 small cell lung cancer and 21 non small cell lung cancer which were confirmed histologically. Results: 1) NSE immunoreactivity was detected in 9 of the 18 (50%) small cell lung cancer, in 5 of the 16 non small cell lung cancer. 2) Whereas the mean value in non-small cell lung cancer group was $11.79{\pm}4.47\;ng/ml$, the mean level of serum NSE in small cell lung cancer increased up to $59.3{\pm}77.8\;ng/ml$. In small cell lung cancer patients, mean value of limited disease group was $20.19{\pm}12.91\;ng/ml$, while mean value of extended disease group was $91.9{\pm}94.2\;ng/ml$ showing statistically significant difference. If serum levels above 20 ng/ml were tentatively defined as positive, 16 of 22 (73%) patients with SCLC had positive serum NSE level, but only one patient with NSCLC did. There was no correlation between serum NSE level and immunoreactivity of NSE. Conclusion: These studies indicate that serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and disease extent and NSE immunostaining can be used to demonstrate the neuroendocrine components of lung tumor.