Ultrastructural Characteristics Of The Interstitial Cells Of Cajal In Guinea Pig Prostate

Objective: To observe the ultrastructural characteristics of the interstitial cells of Cajal in guinea pig prostate and the ultrastructural relationships between ICCs wiyh nerves and smooth muscle cells. To observe the prostate ICC in guinea pig under immunoelectron microscope.Method: The guinea pig prostate slices were made for immunohistochemistry and anti-c-Kit was used to indentify ICCs. The guinea pig prostate slices were made and the ultrastructural features and the relationship between ICCs and nerves or smooth muscle cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy and ultrastructural features and the ICC were observed by c-Kit,ABL with immunoelectron microscopy experiments.Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed many c-Kit positive ICCs in guinea pig prostate.Ultrastructurally, many special interstitial cells have been found in accordance with the morphology and distribution of c-Kit positive ICCs and the majority ultrastructural criterions of ICCs. Under electron microscope, prostate ICCs were distributed between smooth muscle bundles. These cells were closely related with smooth muscle cells and closely connected nerve fibers with synaptic-like junctions. Large masses detected by c-Kit antibody were seen on the ICC cell-body surface of the microwave irradiation fixation group. Immuno-gold was seen also inside the platelet open canalicular system colloidal gold probe was not detected both in the platelet in the negative control group.Conclusion: These data show that ICCs in the guinea pig prostate possess the ultrastructural characteristics required to mediate nerve signals and regulate the tone of smooth muscle.The c-Kit antigen for ICC of guinea pig could be fine located by fixation using 10 nm colloidal gold probe.