Abstract
BackgroundInterstitial Cajal cells have been suspected as being the pacemaker cells of smooth muscle motor activity and discharging slow triggering waves in the gut as well as in other organs containing smooth muscles where they are known as interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC). The present study describes ICLC localization and density in the porcine oviduct and uterus. Differences in ICLC density were examined using histological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent methods and c-kit expression was determined.Resultsinterstitial Cajal-like cells with characteristic morphological and immunological phenotypes were found. Star-like or spindle-shaped cells with very long, moniliform processes were localized in the muscle layers of the oviduct and uterine walls at variable densities that decreased progressively from high in the oviduct to low in the uterus.ConclusionsThe detailed description of ICLC in the porcine reproductive tract may lead to a better understanding of reproductive tract motility. Our approach is inexpensive and effective for ICLC evaluation and may in the future be applied to clinical diagnosis.
Highlights
Interstitial Cajal cells have been suspected as being the pacemaker cells of smooth muscle motor activity and discharging slow triggering waves in the gut as well as in other organs containing smooth muscles where they are known as interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC)
The characteristics of ICLC in the porcine reproductive tract were demonstrated by histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (Fig. 1)
Such cells were found in the positive control samples while they were absent in the negative controls (Fig. 2)
Summary
Interstitial Cajal cells have been suspected as being the pacemaker cells of smooth muscle motor activity and discharging slow triggering waves in the gut as well as in other organs containing smooth muscles where they are known as interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC). Cells with morphology and antigenicity similar to ICC have been found outside the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., in the vas deferens [5], urethra [6], bladder [7], prostate gland [8], lymphatic vessels [9], uterus [10], blood vessels [11], fallopian tube [12, 13], mammary gland [14] and pancreas [15] of mice, rats and humans These cells are most commonly known as interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC).
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