Open AccessStructural and ultrastructural evidence for telocytes in prostate stroma
Author(s) -
Corradi Lara S.,
Jesus Mariana M.,
Fochi Ricardo A.,
Vilamaior Patricia S. L.,
Justulin Luis A.,
Góes Rejane M.,
Felisbino Sérgio L.,
Taboga Sebastião R.
Publication year - 2013
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/jcmm.12021
Subject(s) - stroma , stromal cell , extracellular matrix , biology , pathology , prostate , microbiology and biotechnology , ultrastructure , epithelium , immunohistochemistry , anatomy , medicine , cancer research , cancer , genetics
The prostate comprises a glandular epithelium embedded within a fibromuscular stroma. The stroma is a complex arrangement of cells and extracellular matrix ( ECM ) components in addition to growth factors, regulatory molecules, remodelling enzymes, blood vessels, nerves and immune cells. The principal sources of ECM components are fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells ( SMC ), which synthesize the structural and regulatory components of the ECM . Telocytes ( TC s) were recently described as a novel stromal cell type that exhibited characteristic features. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of TC s in prostate stromal tissue of gerbils, as the stromal compartment of this gland is a dynamic microenvironment. We used transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ), light microscopy and immunohistochemistry methods to provide morphological evidence for the presence of TC s. Cells that resembled TC s were observed in gerbil prostatic stroma. These cells had small cellular bodies with very thin and extremely long cellular processes. They were found primarily in the subepithelial area and also at the periphery of SMC layers. TC s also exhibited moniliform processes, caveolae and nuclei surrounded by small amounts of cytoplasm. Close contacts between TC podomers were evident, particularly in the adjacent epithelial compartment. This morphological evidence supported the presence of TC s in the gerbil prostatic stroma, which we report for the first time.