title: Telocytes in female reproductive system (human and animal).
abstract: Telocytes (TCs) are a newly discovered type of cell with numerous functions. They have been found in a large variety of organs: heart (endo-, myo-, epi- and pericardium, myocardial sleeves, heart valves); digestive tract and annex glands (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, liver, gallbladder, salivary gland, exocrine pancreas); respiratory system (trachea and lungs); urinary system (kidney, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, urethra); female reproductive system (uterus, Fallopian tube, placenta, mammary gland); vasculature (blood vessels, thoracic duct); serous membranes (mesentery and pleura); and other organs (skeletal muscle, meninges and choroid plexus, neuromuscular spindles, fascia lata, skin, eye, prostate, bone marrow). Likewise, TCs are widely distributed in vertebrates (fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, including human). This review summarizes particular features of TCs in the female reproductive system, emphasizing their involvement in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aleksandrovych
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007834:Lasers; D012098:Reproduction; D000067170:Telocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: CD34; Fallopian tube; human placenta; myometrium; sex steroid receptors; telocytes; telopodes; uterus