Telocytes (interstitial cajal like cells) of the fallopian tubes in acute and chronic salpingitis

Abstract

Telocytes (TCs) are a recently described population of cells. Their histogenesis, phytophysiology, function and role in the development of pathological conditions are discussed by many researchers. In particular, the pathophysiological role of TCs in the fallopian tubes affected by inflammation remains unexplored. Objective: to study ultrastructural changes in the TC and their diagnostic significance in the distal fallopian tubes in acute and chronic salpingitis. Histological, immunohistochemical (IHC) and electron microscopic (EM) examination of fragments of the distal fallopian tubes of 10 women (age 37.8 ± 7.1 years) with acute and chronic inflammation, as well as without disease were carried out. IHC study was carried out with antibodies characteristic of stem cells (CD34, CD117) and Cajal cells (CD117, DOG1). We believe that immunophenotyping with well-known markers is not specific and is not suitable for the identification of TCs in the fallopian tubes. An EM study revealed multiple destructive changes in the TC. In acute salpingitis - loss of organelles, cytoplasmic vacuolization, dilatation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum, loss of intercellular contacts, shortening of telopodia, local loss of plasma membrane integrity. In chronic salpingitis, there is an increase in destructive changes and a further decrease in the number of TCs. Changes in TC and a decrease in their number alter the three-dimensional organization of the extracellular matrix in the stromal compartment of the fallopian tube, weaken intercellular signaling and contractility of the fallopian tube, which contributes to impaired organ motility.