title: Identification and characterization of telocytes in the uterus of the oviduct in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis: TEM evidence.
abstract: Telocytes (Tcs) are cells with telopodes (Tps), which are very long cellular extensions with alternating thin segments (podomers) and dilated bead-like thick regions known as podoms. Tcs are a distinct category of interstitial cells and have been identified in many mammalian organs including heart, lung and kidney. The present study investigates the existence, ultrastructure, distribution and contacts of Tcs with surrounding cells in the uterus (shell gland) of the oviduct of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. Samples from the uterine segment of the oviduct were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Tcs were mainly located in the lamina propria beneath the simple columnar epithelium of the uterus and were situated close to nerve endings, capillaries, collagen fibres and secretory glands. The complete morphology of Tcs and Tps was clearly observed and our data confirmed the existence of Tcs in the uterus of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. Our results suggest these cells contribute to the function of the secretory glands and contraction of the uterus.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Shakeeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Linli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Waqas
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiusheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010057:Oviducts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014426:Turtles; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens
keywords: Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis); telocytes; ultrastructure; uterus