BACKGROUND: Telocytes represent a relatively newly discovered population of cells found within the various tissues and organs, including Fallopian tubes. It is presumed that telocytes could serve as a sensor of hormone levels or regulate activity of muscle peristaltic movement. METHODS: Tissue sections from anatomically different parts of Fallopian tubes of 48 women (age 48.8 ± 9.1) were stained for the expression of fi ve different antigens: c-kit (CD117), CD34, vimentin, podoplanin (D2-40) and Dog-1. RESULTS: Telocytes form a network associated with the smooth muscle cells. From the mentioned antibodies, only anti-c-kit (CD117) seems to be relatively selective specifi c to the telocytes, others react also with numerous other cells and tissue structures. Our results when using antibodies against podoplanin and Dog-1 are in dissonance with recent literature -with regards to our results, they are not suitable for detection of telocytes. CONCLUSION: Methods of immunohistochemistry are suitable for identifi cation of telocytes in Fallopian tubes. C-kit (CD117) antigens are useful for routine identifi cation of telocytes in histological sections. This antigen can be combined with CD34 or vimentin in cases of double staining immunohistochemistry (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 44). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.
However, all above-mentioned functions of telocytes are purely hypothetic and have been published only recently. Therefore, only further research will demonstrate whether this recently discovered cell population will really play a key role in all processes mentioned, or whether it is just an effort of scientists to clarify unknown cause of some diseases in gynaecology and obstetrics. Our literature review is completed by our own original photomicrographs documenting telocytes in various organs of the female reproductive system.
Over the last few years, researchers have been studying telocytes, recently described interstitial cells, voraciously. This morphological study focused on the immunohistochemical identification of telocytes and the study of their topographical relations in the wall of the human uterine body and cervix. This study attempted to find the most specific and therefore, the most suitable monoclonal antibody for the study of telocytes via the immunohistochemical methods. Tissue specimens from human uteruses were stained with eight different primary antibodies, to detect the expression of c-kit (CD117), CD34 antigen, vimentin,
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