The Study On Oviduct Telocytes Damage In Rat Model Of Acute Salpingitis

Objective:Telocytes(TCs) were newly found interstitial cells, with extremely long processes called telopodes(Tps), to study the distribution, morphological profiles, phenotype and ultrastructural damage of oviduct TCs in rat model of acute salpingitis(AS) and probe its potential impact on structural and functional abnormalities of oviduct.Methods:Thirty female, Sprague--Dawley rats were selected for experiments. All rats were randomly divided equally into AS and normal control group.1. Under aseptic conditions, bacteria liquid(Escherichia coli, E. coli) were injected into oviduct lumens in AS group, with normal rats served as control.2. One week later, oviduct sections presented inflammation by using the hematoxylin-eosin(HE), immunohistochemistry(IHC) and immuofluorescence(IF).Immunofluorescence intensity was quantitatively measured by laser confocal scanning microscope, the quantitative determination of inflammatory factors(i NOS,COX-2) was calculated by multiplying the average number of pixels/area.3. By using the IF and transmission electron microscope(TEM), TCs were identified as newly interstitial cells in rat oviduct. To study the distribution, morphological profiles,phenotype and ultrastructural damage of oviduct TCs in rat model of AS and probe its potential impact on structural and functional abnormalities of oviduct.Results:1. In AS group, rat oviduct demonstrated dilated lumen, wall congestion and peritubal adhesions. On microscopic examination, specimens presented with acute inflammation reaction as follows, smooth muscle cells(SMCs) and capillaries swelling,interstitial edema and infiltration of numerous neutrophils. However, in normal group,nearly normal histology was observed, with no evidence of neutrophils infiltration.2. Quantitative analyze showed that the expression of i NOS and COX-2 in AS groupwere respectively:13849.25±2186.71, 28938.31±4526.89, and the normal group were respectively: 5712.49±2107.86,5939.73±2415.02. The difference between the AS group and the normal group was significant(both P < 0.05).3. The existence of TCs in rat oviduct tissues was observed under TEM. They often embraced whole capillaries tightly with their prolongations(Tps). TCs were characterized by their long, thin and moniliform Tps, consisting of podoms and podomers. There were rich in mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and caveolae. Oviduct TCs were positive for CD34 and Vimentin, while negative for CD117(c-kit).4. Under TEM, in AS group, TCs distribution was relative sparse, with cytoplasmic dissolving and vacuolating; decreased organelles, swelling mitochondrions, and dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulums. Gap junctions between TCs and other cells were faint or disappeared, which was obviously different from the normal ultrastructure of telocytes in the normal group.Conclusions:1. In AS group, rat oviduct presented with acute inflammation reaction and overproduced inflammatory factors, suggested mechanism of inflammatory-induced TCs damage.2. Based on the characteristic of normal and damaged ultrastructure, we suggested that TCs damage might involve in structural and functional abnormalities of oviduct after AS.