Region specificity of fibroblast-like cells in the mucosa of the rat large intestine

Histological study on the reginal difference in the localization of mucosal enteric glial cells and their sheath structure in the rat intestine

“…One primary cilium was found to extend from near the centrioles of all mEGCs analyzed in the present study ( Supplementary Fig. 2 ), similar to fibroblast-like cells in the previous study [ 24 ], although that was only slightly exserted from the cellular surface. The extension of the cellular process from mEGCs into the epithelium and the contact with enteroendocrine cells, both of which is reported in the mouse small intestine [ 5 ], was never found in the present study despite careful observation.…”

“…A recently developed imaging technology called three-dimensional analysis with electron microscopy enables us to easily understand the ultrastructures of animal tissues well. Indeed, using a method for this technology called serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM), has thus far enabled us to clarify that the micromilieu in the intestinal mucosa differs among regions throughout the intestine [ 2 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 24 ]. For example, we have clarified that the histological characteristics of fibroblast-like cells, one of the main cell types in the lamina propria, differ among the ileum [ 17 ], the cecum, and the descending colon [ 24 ].…”

“…Indeed, using a method for this technology called serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM), has thus far enabled us to clarify that the micromilieu in the intestinal mucosa differs among regions throughout the intestine [ 2 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 24 ]. For example, we have clarified that the histological characteristics of fibroblast-like cells, one of the main cell types in the lamina propria, differ among the ileum [ 17 ], the cecum, and the descending colon [ 24 ]. Moreover, the characteristics of contact between the nerve fibers and various kinds of cells in the intestinal mucosa also are different among the ileum [ 18 ], the cecum, and the descending colon [ 19 ].…”

“…All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution (the Kobe University Animal Experimentation Regulations). We focused on the three different regions, the ileum, the cecum, and the descending colon, in this study because the other types of cells in the mucosa, such as fibroblast-like cells [ 17 , 24 ] and the nerve network [ 18 , 19 ], exhibited the regional differences among these three regions. The data stacks obtained from SBF-SEM in our previous studies [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 24 ] were reused in the present study ( Supplementary Fig.…”

“…We focused on the three different regions, the ileum, the cecum, and the descending colon, in this study because the other types of cells in the mucosa, such as fibroblast-like cells [17,24] and the nerve network [18,19], exhibited the regional differences among these three regions. The data stacks obtained from SBF-SEM in our previous studies [17][18][19]24] were reused in the present study (Supplementary Fig. 1).…”