ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Fibroblast
;
Smooth muscle cell
;
Contractility
;
Small intestine (rat)
;
Electron microscopy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The stroma of duodenal villi of rats was studied by light- and electron microscopy. Fibroblasts are rather evenly distributed within the villus. Their branched processes embrace all blood vessels, the lacteal and the bundles of smooth muscle cells. They are connected to each other and to smooth muscle cells by “close contacts”. Unmyelinated axons are found close to the fibroblasts where they may show synapse-like formations. The fibroblasts within intestinal villi contain many dilated cisterns of rER similar to normal fibroblasts. In contrast to the latter, there are many aggregated, contractile filaments, being situated mainly below the plasma membrane and within the processes. It is suggested that fibroblasts representing a 3-dimensional contractile network may be activated by smooth muscle cells and/or by innervation. So, they seem to be involved in the diminution of the vascular and stromal spaces within the villus.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00307181
