Abstract
Telocytes (TCs) are recently described interstitial cells, present in almost all human organs. Among many other functions, TCs regulate gastrointestinal motility together with the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). TCs and ICCs have close localization in the human myenteric plexus; however, the exact spatial relationship cannot be clearly examined by previously applied double immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy. Data on TCs and submucosal ganglia and their relationship to intestinal nerves are scarce. The aim of the study was to analyse the spatial relationship among these components in the normal human ileum and colon with double CD34/CD117 and CD34/S100 immunohistochemistry and high‐resolution light microscopy. TCs were found to almost completely encompass both myenteric and submucosal ganglia in ileum and colon. An incomplete monolayer of ICCs was localized between the TCs and the longitudinal muscle cells in ileum, whereas only scattered ICCs were present on both surfaces of the colonic myenteric ganglia. TC‐telopodes were observed within colonic myenteric ganglia. TCs, but no ICCs, were present within and around the interganglionic nerve fascicles, submucosal nerves and mesenterial nerves, but were only observed along small nerves intramuscularly. These anatomic differences probably reflect the various roles of TCs and ICCs in the bowel function.
Highlights
It is widely accepted that the gastrointestinal peristaltic movement is under the influence of/governed by the myenteric plexus and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)
This study showed that TCs form an encompassing almost complete sheath around both myenteric and submucosal ganglia and interganglionic fascicles in both ileum and colon
ICCs formed a layer outside the TC layer of the myenteric ganglia in the ileum and were scattered in similar localization at the interganglionic fascicles
Summary
It is widely accepted that the gastrointestinal peristaltic movement is under the influence of/governed by the myenteric plexus and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). The other component of the enteric nervous system (ENS), the submucosal plexus, does not take part in the regulation of the bowel movement, but influences the secretory activity apart from that of the endocrine cells, mucosa and blood vessels.[1]. The ICCs are organized into several locations, with variation between different gastrointestinal regions. In both the small and large intestine, ICCs have been found around the myenteric ICC plexus (ICC-MP), within the circular and longitudinal muscle layers (ICC-IM) and in the interlamellar connective tissue of the circular muscle.[2-9]. ICCs form/build up the deep muscular ICC.
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