Liaqat Ali Minhas, Muhammad Yunus Khan.
Ultrastructural study of Ampulla of Vater of Human Biliary Tree.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(5):287-8.

Objective: To study the surface epithelium and glands of submucosal part (ampulla of Vater) of biliary tree. Design: It was a prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was a part of research work carried out in the Department of Anatomy, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, from August 1994 to August 1996. Materials and Methods: Eighteen specimens of ampulla of Vater obtained from human cadavers were utilized for study. The tissue was processed for araldite sections. Approximately 0.5 mcm thick sections were cut. Two steps polychromatic stain technique using toluidine blue and basic fuchsin was employed. Results: Surface epithelium was made up of tall columnar, light and dark stained cells. Some epithelial cells had irregular microvilli. Terminal bar like structures were seen in adjacent apical regions of the cells. Cells of glandular acini were pyramidal in shape. Nuclei were round, oval to irregular in shape. Secretion of cells (lining the surface epithelium and glandular acini) as demonstrated by toluidine blue (TB) stain was mucus. Conclusion: Submucosal part (ampulla of Vater) is lined by simple tall columnar epithelium made up of dark and light cells, whereas glandular acini consist of pyramidal cells: Celts of both regions secrete mucus.

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