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Journal of Electron Microscopy 49(1): 203-208 (2000)
© 2000 Oxford University Press

A re-examination of the cellular reticulum of fibroblast-like cells in the rat small intestine by scanning electron microscopy

Junzo Desaki* and Maki Shimizu

Department of Anatomy, Ehime University School of Medicine Shigenobu, Ehime 791-0295, Japan

*To whom correspondence should be addressed

The organization and arrangement of fibroblast-like cells in the rat small intestine were re-examined by scanning electron microscopy after removal of the epithelium and underlying connective tissue components by HCl hydrolysis. In the villi, the fibroblast-like cells had numerous slender processes, and formed a dense and elaborate network like a sieve. It consisted of a large number of circular structures (circles) with various diameters ranging from 0.3 um to 5µm formed by the twining of slender processes. In the upper area of villi, numerous fragmental protrusions which were considered to be mainly parts of immune-related cells such as lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages extended from the circles. The cells around each tubular gland enclosed it like a basket. These findings suggest that in addition to the function as a skeleton for the villi and glands, the fibroblastlike cells in the upper area of villi may play an important role in regulating the migration of the immune-related cells between the epithelial layer and the underlying lamina propria by their cellular sieve-like structure and contractile ability.

Keywords     fibroblast-like cell, villus, small intestine, scanning electron microscopy, rat

Received      8 June 1999, accepted 27 September 1999


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