Open AccessHuman placenta: de visu demonstration of interstitial Cajal‐like cells
Author(s) -
Suciu Laura,
Popescu L. M.,
Gherghiceanu Mihaela
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00058.x
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , pathology , biology , immunofluorescence , anatomy , cytotrophoblast , interstitial cell , staining , immunohistochemistry , placenta , fetus , antibody , medicine , immunology , genetics , pregnancy
Traditional interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are present in the digestive tube and are supposed to act as pacemakers and neuromodulators. However, interstitial Cajal‐like cells (ICLCs) were found outside the gastrointestinal tract, in various organs (e.g. ureter, bladder, fallopian tube, uterus, pancreas, mammary gland, myocardium etc.) and looking for such ICLC is a priority in our laboratories.We report here unequivocal visual evidence that ICLCs are present in the mesenchymal tissue of the villi from human term placenta.The following methods were used: a. vital staining with methylene blue (cryosections); b. silver impregnation (paraffin sections); c. Epon‐embedded sections (∼1μm) of glutaraldehyde/osmium fixed tissue, stained with toluidine blue; d. primary cell cultures (or second‐passage cells) to reveal the characteristic, very long, moniliform cell processes and mitochondrial localization at dilations (molecular fluorescence probe: Mito Tracker Green); e. immunofluorescence for c‐kit/CD117 marker or other characteristic proteins; f. transmission electron microscopy to establish the identity of ICLC.