Examination of claudin-5 protein expression of the endothelial cells of lymph vessels in canine mammary glands and mammary gland carcinoma by immunohistochemical methods.

摘要

The authors briefly summarize the anatomy, histology and clinico-pathological parameters of canine mammary gland tumors. The regulatory effects of the tight junction (TJ) proteins and the most important features of claudins are also discussed. According to their knowledge, this is the first publication in veterinary oncology, which describes the claudin-5 (tight junction) protein expression of the endothelial cells of the lymph vessels in the normal canine mammary gland, based on immunohistochemical methods. Samples excised from intact inguinal mammary glands of eighteen adult (1-13 years old) non-fertilized bitches were examined. The endothelial cells of the interstitial lymph vessels, small arteries and veins localized between the glandular tissue showed intensive, partial membrane and partial cytoplasm positive (red colored) reaction after incubation with monoclonal mouse anti-claudin-5 antibody (1:120 dilution, Zymed Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA). They made the immunohistochemistry method with anti-claudin-5 in cases of 15 grade III solid simple carcinomas with peritumoral lymphogen invasion of mammary gland in canines. Grade III solid simplex mammary carcinomas with prominent peritumoral lymph vessel invasion turned out to be negative for anti-claudin-5 in all reactions, while positive anti-claudin-5 reaction was observed in the endothelial cells of the lymph vessels containing the tumor-emboli.