Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT)—M-Cell

Dome epithelium from the Peyer patches ( plaques ) of the small intestines.  The M -cells 1 are intersperse d with enterocytes 2 . The basolateral cell sur-faces form pocket-like invaginations. These pockets contain lymphocytes 3 and sometimes macrophages. Enterocytes 2 show a continuous brush border of microvilli 4. In contrast, M-cells have an irregular apical surface without mucus. M-cells initiate the immune response.  Porcine small intestines.

1 M-cell

2 Enterocytes

3 Lymphocyte

4 Enterocyte microvilli

Electron microscopy; magnification: × 580

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .