Paneth cells

Fluorescent micrograph showing the localisation of paneth cells in the mouse small intestinal crypt. The tissue was stained with an antibody against lysozyme (green) an enzyme that is abundant in Paneth cells. Paneth cells are found along the intestine and their main function is in the secretion of lysozyme to digest bacteria, they are also thought to have a protective role as they are located in small intestinal crypts adjacent to stem cells, which renew the epithelial lining suggesting they play a role in protecting this cell renewal process. Rhodamine phalloidin was used to label F-actin a fibrous muscle protein (red) and DAPI to highlight the cell nuclei.