Ultrastructural characteristics of tuft cells in mouse gallbladder epithelium

Abstract

Mouse gallbladder was fixed by perfusion or immersion in glutaraldehyde and/or osmium tetroxide for electron microscopy. Besides usual columnar epithelial cells there were infrequent tuft cells in the epithelium. The cells rested on the basal lamina and extended to the gallbladder lumen. The microvilli on the apical cell surface were tall and thick and there was a rich network of microfilaments radiating from the core of the microvilli to the apical and juxta-nuclear cytoplasm. Among the bundles of microfilaments there were vertically oriented microtubules in the apical cytoplasm. Although the function of the tuft cells in the gallbladder epithelium remains unknown, it is proposed that their unique morphology may reflect a specialized resorptive function involving motility of microvilli and other cell organelles.

Comparative morphology of the gallbladder and biliary tract in vertebrates: Variation in structure, homology in function and gallstones

“…7B), up to 5 µm in length. These microvilli have an appearance similar to that of the tuft cells seen in the mouse (Luciano, 1972;Luciano andReale, 1969, 1990;Nevalainen, 1977), although we have not yet performed TEM studies to confirm this observation. Based on this peculiar morphological aspect, it is possible that these tall microvilli possess a possible mechano-or chemo-sensory function.…”

Ultrastructure of the main excretory duct epithelia of the rat parotid and submandibular glands with a review of the literature

“…gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder, bile and pancreatic The basal plasma membrane infoldings in the type I ducts, and bronchial and alveolar walls ( J h i and Key-light cells in the MED epithelium of the parotid gland rilainen, 1955;Jarvi, 1962;Rhodin and Dalham, 1956; are similar to those in the MED epithelium of the rat Isomaki, 1962Isomaki, , 1973Luciano et al, 1968a,b; Luciano submandibular gland. The type 11 light cells are differand Reale, 1969Reale, , 1979Reiches, 1972; Nabeyama and ent from the light cells of the rat submandibular gland Leblond, 1974;Hijiya et al, 1977;Nevalainen, 1977). and the type I light cells of the rat parotid gland.…”

The Immune Function of Tuft Cells at Gut Mucosal Surfaces and Beyond

“…In rodents, tuft cells have been identified in the digestive system [salivary glands (15), stomach (2), gall bladder and bile duct (16,17), pancreatic duct (18), small intestine (19), cecum (20), and colon (21)], the respiratory system [nasal cavity (22), auditory tube (23), and trachea (1)], the urethra (24), and even in the thymus (25), a primary lymphoid organ. In rats, cells with tuft-like morphology have also been observed in the alveolar epithelium (26), but in mice, they have not been seen below the bronchial branch point.…”