Three-dimensional Analysis of Interstitial Cells in the Lamina Propria of the Murine Vas Deferens by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and FIB/SEM

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2022 Jun 8

PMID 35676513

Authors

Tasuku Hiroshige

Kei-Ichiro Uemura

Shingo Hirashima

Akinobu Togo

Keisuke Ohta

Kei-Ichiro Nakamura

Tsukasa Igawa

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the three-dimensional (3D) ultrastructure of interstitial cells (ICs) within the lamina propria of the murine vas deferens and the spatial relationships between epithelial cells and surrounding cells. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were performed. ICs within the lamina propria had a flat, sheet-like structure of cytoplasm with multiple cellular processes. In addition, two types of 3D structures that comprised cell processes of flat, sheet-like ICs were observed: one was an accordion fold-like structure and the other was a rod-shaped structure. ICs were located parallel to the epithelium and were connected to each other via gap junctions or adherens junctions. Moreover, multiple sphere-shaped extracellular vesicle-like structures were frequently observed around the ICs. The ICs formed a complex 3D network comprising sheet-like cytoplasm and multiple cell processes with different 3D structures. From this morphological study, we noted that ICs within the lamina propria of murine vas deferens may be involved in signal transmission between the epithelium and smooth muscle cells by physical interaction and by exchanging extracellular vesicles.

Citing Articles

Insights on Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α-Positive Interstitial Cells in the Male Reproductive Tract.

Hiroshige T, Uemura K, Nakamura K, Igawa T Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(7).

PMID: 38612936 PMC: 11012365. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074128.

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