Interstitial cells of Cajal in fetal calf esophagus detected by immunohistochemistry.

MÁRQUEZ SG; GALOTTA JM; BARBEITO CG; PORTIANSKY EL.

San Luis

Congreso; Congreso de Ciencias Morfologicas de Cuyo; 2007

C-kit is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor expressed by a variety of normal mammalian cell types, including germ cells, immature myeloid cells, mast cells and interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC). ICCs are important regulatory cells in the muscular tunica of the digestive tract. We have studied the distribution of ICC within the intra-abdominal portion of the esophagus using antibodies against c-Kit /CD117. Samples were obtained from six 5-month old fetuses. Inmunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded sections, according to the LSAB® method of DAKO and examined under light microscopy. Strong immunoreactivity was observed in ICC-like cells and mast cells. C-kit positive branched ICC-like cells were detected in the esophageal striate musculature. They were distinguishable from c-kit negative unbranched smooth muscle cells and the c-kit positive unbranched mast cells. The density of ICC-like cells was greater at the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. ICC-like cells appeared as bipolar and stellate cells with long prolongations closely associated. ICCs were scarce around the ganglionar plexus where they are commonly localized. C-Kit immunohistochemistry provides an opportunity for characterizing distribution, density, organization, and relationship between ICC and other cell types.