Abstract
The current study was undertaken to investigate the microscopic features of the palatine tonsils of dromedary camel and to observe the distribution of some markers that might be related to the dendritic cells. Tonsils of 12 camels were processed for H&E stain and for IL-2, CD8(+) and TCR gamma delta immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that palatine tonsils formed of solitary or aggregates of more than one nodule in which the lymphocytes were distributed in the form of follicular and interfollicular areas. The mucosal epithelium of the tonsils was stratified squamous non-keratinied that was reflected into the crypts where it is called reticular epithelium, stratified squamous non-keratinised infiltrated with lymphocytes. The immunohistochemical study revealed that the IL-2 was highly expressed at the mucosal and reticular epithelium, strong at the vascular epithelium. The CD8(+) expression was strong at the reticular epithelium and moderate at mucosal epithelium and blood vessels. The expression of TCR gamma delta was strong at the mucosal epithelium without any expression at other tissues related to the palatine tonsils. Collectively, the present study provides indication that the mucosal and reticular epithelium of the camel could have certain role in the immune responses.