Research
Telocytes in the urinary system
- † Equal contributors
1 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Fudan University, Zhongshan Hospital, No.180, Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
2 Biomedical Research Center, Fudan University, Zhongshan Hospital, No.180, Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
3 Department of Urology Surgery, Fudan University, Zhongshan Hospital, No.180, Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
4 Key Lab of Shanghai Organ Transplantation, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, No.180, Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Journal of Translational Medicine 2012, 10:188 doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-188
Published: 10 September 2012Abstract
Background
Telocytes, a new type of interstitial cells, have been identified in many organs in mammals. The present studies aimed at investigating the ultrastructure, distribution and interactions of telocytes with surrounding cells in the urinary system of rats, to confirm the existence of telocytes in kidneys, ureter and urinary bladder.
Methods
Samples of kidney, ureter, or urinary bladder were harvested for the ultrastructure by the electron microscope. The primary culture of telocytes was performed to investigate the dynamic alterations.
Results
Telocytes mainly located in the sub-capsular space of kidney, or between smooth muscle bundles and in the lamina propria of ureter and urinary bladder. Telocytes established numerous contacts with macrophages in the sub-capsular space of kidney, or with smooth muscle cells, nerve endings as well as blood capillaries in the ureter and urinary bladder. The complete morphology of telocytes with telopodes was observed clearly through the primary cell culture from the kidney tissues of rats.
Conclusions
Our data evidenced the existence of telocytes in the urinary system, which may contribute to the tissue reparation and regeneration.
