title: Tracheal telocytes.
abstract: Recently, a novel type of stromal cell - the telocytes (TC) - was identified in mouse trachea. These cells are known to possess the ultrastructural characteristics, which support their role in intercellular signaling. We found TC in all stromal compartments of the tracheal wall. TC with long prolongations (telopodes, Tp) were lining longitudinally the collagen bundles, and were serially arranged (end-to-end connections of Tp were found). Noteworthy, Tp frequently establish stromal synapses with mast cells (MC). Primary cilia were also identified in TC. In conclusion, tracheal TC could be involved in the tracheal regulation (e.g. secretion, contractility). The tandem TC-MC deserves further investigations.
authors: Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Rusu
authors: Adelina M
authors: AM
authors: Jianu
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mirancea
authors: Andreea C
authors: AC
authors: Didilescu
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: Mănoiu
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Păduraru
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology*