Immunohistochemical identification of interstitial cells of cajal (ICCs) in prenatal bovine intestine

Interstitial cell of cajal (ICC) was detected using C-kit immunoreactivity in different regions of prenatal foetal intestine. The ICC was first detected as early as four months of foetal age. The ICC was bipolar to stellate shaped and mostly concentrated around myenteric plexus, innervating their fibers in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers. The number of ICC varied significantly in different regions of intestine. ICC at sub mucosal plexus was not detected in the small intestine but present in the large intestine. Highest population of ICC was detected at ceco-colic junction. We are the first worker to report the ontogenesis of ICC in prenatal bovine intestine. These results suggested the correlation of ICC related pathophysiology in adult