Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural identification of telocytes in the lamina propria of human vaginal mucosa

Acta Histochem. 2023 Sep 25;125(7):152094. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152094. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSince their relatively recent discovery, telocytes (TCs) have been described as peculiar cells strategically positioned in the stromal tissue component of multiple organ systems of the mammalian body including female reproductive organs (i.e., ovary, uterine tube, and uterus). Nevertheless, current knowledge of TCs in the vagina is very limited. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the existence and characteristics of TCs in the stromal tissue of human vaginal mucosa by means of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In the vaginal lamina propria, TCs were first identified by CD34 immunohistochemistry that revealed the presence of CD34+ stromal cells arranged in networks, especially around blood vessels. Double immunofluorescence confocal microscopy allowed to precisely distinguish the perivascular networks of CD34+ stromal cells lacking CD31 immunoreactivity from adjacent CD31+ microvessels. All the perivascular networks of TCs/CD34+ stromal cells situated in the vaginal lamina propria coexpressed platelet-derived growth factor receptor α, which strengthened their identification as TCs. Instead, vaginal mucosal TCs were immunophenotypically negative for c-kit/CD117. The ultrastructural examination confirmed the presence of TCs, namely stromal cells with characteristic cytoplasmic process...

Source: Acta Histochemica - September 27, 2023 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Irene Rosa Patrizia Nardini Bianca Saveria Fioretto Daniele Guasti Eloisa Romano Eleonora Sgambati Mirca Marini Mirko Manetti Source Type: research