Myoepithelial cells (MEC) are “star-shaped” or “basket” cells that, in salivary glands and other exocrine glands, lie between the basal lamina and the secretory endpiece and ductal cells; MEC resemble smooth muscle cells and epithelial cells in several aspects. The occurrence and distribution of MEC vary among glands and species in adults and during growth and differentiation. The optical sectioning by confocal laser scanning microscopy allowed artifacts during observation to be minimal; in addition, this technical approach avoids continuously changing and adjusting the plane of focus either through the apex of epithelium or in order to cross-section the secretory and ductal elements. Moreover the CLSM evaluation of phalloidin-TRITC fluorescent patterns, here performed, enables visualization, in 3 dimentions, of the morphology of actin-containing cells and can be useful for obtaining more direct spatio-temporal information also on the cellular dynamics of salivary secretion
Confocal laser microscopy to investigate myoepithelial cells in tissue blocks
MARCHETTI, Luigi;
1999-01-01
Abstract
Myoepithelial cells (MEC) are “star-shaped” or “basket” cells that, in salivary glands and other exocrine glands, lie between the basal lamina and the secretory endpiece and ductal cells; MEC resemble smooth muscle cells and epithelial cells in several aspects. The occurrence and distribution of MEC vary among glands and species in adults and during growth and differentiation. The optical sectioning by confocal laser scanning microscopy allowed artifacts during observation to be minimal; in addition, this technical approach avoids continuously changing and adjusting the plane of focus either through the apex of epithelium or in order to cross-section the secretory and ductal elements. Moreover the CLSM evaluation of phalloidin-TRITC fluorescent patterns, here performed, enables visualization, in 3 dimentions, of the morphology of actin-containing cells and can be useful for obtaining more direct spatio-temporal information also on the cellular dynamics of salivary secretionI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.