[Location of telocytes in mouse bronchial and pulmonary tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the location of telocytes in pulmonary tissues.


METHODS
Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, primary cell culture and vital cell staining were used to identify the distribution of telocytes in mouse bronchial and pulmonary tissues.


RESULTS
Telocytes were identified in the interstitial space between bronchial cartilage (cricoid) and smooth muscle by scanning and transmission electron microscope in mouse. By transmission electron micrscope and immunohistochemistry, telocytes were found in the interstitial spaces of lung parenchyma in connection with capillaries and bronchia. Telocytes expressed CD34, c-kit and vimetin by immunohistochemistry. After isolation, cultured telocytes demonstrated typical morphological feature, i.e. cells with telopode, which was seen as luminal structures with alternating thin and thick segments under electron microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
Telocytes are present in the interstitial space between cricoid cartilage and smooth muscle.
Department of Pulmonary, Medicine and Biomedical Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Yong-hua
YH
Zheng
Hua
H
Li
Jun-bo
JB
Ge
Hong-jian
HJ
Gao
Xiang-dong
XD
Wang
D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014746:Vimentin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit