title: Snapshots of mammary gland interstitial cells: methylene-blue vital staining and c-kit immunopositivity.
abstract: We show here that methylene-blue supravital staining of specimens from normal human mammary gland reveals (selectively) interstitial (stromal) cells, with 2-3 long (20-80 microm), thin, moniliform processes. Such cells appear c-kit/CD117 positive, either by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF). Since these features (affinity for methylene blue, c-kit positivity, and characteristic processes) define archetypal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in light microscopy, our results suggest the existence of Cajal-like cells in the interstitium of human normal mammary gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, 050474, Romania. LMP@univermed-cdgm.ro
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hinescu
mesh_terms: D022081:Cell Surface Extensions; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D008751:Methylene Blue