Telocytes in the hearts of Saanen goats

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique 2021-03, Vol.84 (3), p.548-554
• Main Authors: Selviler‐Sizer, Sedef, Kabak, Yonca Betil, Kabak, Murat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Aorta; Aortic valve; Atria; Atrium; Cardiac muscle; CD34; CD34 antigen; Electron microscopes; Fibroblasts; goat; Goats; Heart; Heart valves; Immunofluorescence; Interstitial cells; Muscles; Organs; Scanning electron microscopy; SEM; Staining; telocyte; Vimentin
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23612

Telocytes, new interstitial cells that have received significant attention in recent years, have been detected in many organs, including the heart. The distinction between telocytes and other interstitial cells can only be made based on their ultrastructural characterization and immunophenotypic features. In this study, we examined the interstitial cells in the healthy heart tissues of Saanen goats to determine whether they are telocytes or not, by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining methods. The SEM revealed oval and round telocytes with two to four telopodes. Some telopodes also had podoms. The staining for immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods used for CD34, c‐kit (CD117), and vimentin antibodies. Positive cells were detected in the heart muscle and heart valves by immunohistochemical staining. As these antigens can also be expressed by other non‐telocyte cells, we used double immunofluorescence staining with CD34/c‐kit and CD34/vimentin antibodies to identify true telocytes. Telocytes were determined in the right atrium and aortic valve. While telocytes were CD34+/c‐kit+ and CD34+/vimentin+, fibroblasts were CD34−/vimentin+. These results confirm the presence of telocytes in the hearts of Saanen goats. The presence of telocytes in the heart of Saanen goats was detected by SEM examinations and immunofluorescence staining. It is the first study demonstrating the presence of telocytes in Saanen goats. SEM examinations revealed telocytes, especially in the subepicardium of the right and left atria and the left ventricle. These cells were generally oval and round shaped (the body length of the telocytes was between 7 and 10 μm) and had a different number of prolongations (telopodes). The number of these prolongations varied between two and four, and significant dilatations–podoms were observed on some of these cells. Telocytes and fibroblasts can be confused with each other, but fibroblast seems a spindle‐shaped with a bulging cell body, and is on average 14–20 μm long. To differentiate these cells from each other, a double immunostaining method with CD34/c‐kit and CD34/vimentin antibodies were used. The telocytes were positive for CD34/c‐kit and CD34/vimentin, while the fibroblasts were only vimentin positive.