title: Morphological evidence of telocytes in mice aorta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cells, which have been recently described in a large variety of cavitary and noncavitary organs. TCs have small cell bodies, and remarkably thin, long, and moniliform prolongations called telopodes (Tps). Until now, TCs have been found in various loose connective tissues surrounding the arterioles, venules, and capillaries, but as a histological cellular component, whether TCs exist in large arteries remains unexplored.
  
  
  METHODS
  TCs were identified by transmission electron microscope in the aortic arch of male C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCs in aortic arch had small cell bodies (length: 6.06-13.02 μm; width: 1.05-4.25 μm) with characteristics of specific long (7.74-39.05 μm), thin, and moniliform Tps; TCs distributed in the whole connective tissue layer of tunica adventitia: TCs in the innermost layer of tunica adventitia, located at the juncture between media and adventitia, with their long axes oriented parallel to the outer elastic membrane; and TCs in outer layers of tunica adventitia, were embedded among transverse and longitudinal oriented collagen fibers, forming a highly complex three-dimensional meshwork. Moreover, desmosomes were observed, serving as pathways connecting neighboring Tps. In addition, vesicles shed from the surface of TCs into the extracellular matrix, participating in some biological processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCs in aorta arch are a newly recognized complement distinct from other interstitial cells in large arteries, such as fibroblasts. And further biologically functional correlations need to be elucidated.
authors: Hong-Qi
authors: HQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Shan-Shan
authors: SS
authors: Lu
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Xu
authors: Yan-Ling
authors: YL
authors: Feng
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: Jun-Bo
authors: JB
authors: Ge
mesh_terms: D063194:Adventitia / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
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