Examination of telocyte morphology and organization in rat ovaries before and after menopause, by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy

Objective: Telocytes are identified as interstitial/stromal cells characterized with a cell body which has little amount of cytoplasm and a nucleus, and several tiny long cell processes named telopodes. The aim of this study was to investigate presence of telocytes around the follicules of rat ovaries both before and after the menopause. Method: After paraffin processing, rat ovarian tissue sections stained with Masson's thrichrome and Bielschowsky's silver stain techniques, also immünologically marked with CD34 antigen for light microscopy. Additionally, tissue sections after resin processing contrasted for electron microscopy. Prepared sections are observed and evaluated by light and electron microscopes. Results: Telocyte like cells could not be demonstrated by Masson's thrichrome and Bielschowsky's silver stain techniques. Telocyte like cells, also, could not be demonstrated by CD34 immunological marker. Telocyte like cells, with their triangular nuclei and long slender cellular processes are demonstrated in electron microscopic sections of both premenopausal and postmenopausal ovaries. Conclusion: It is shown that, light microscopical techniques are not appropriate for demonstration of telocytes in the ovarian tisses. CD34 immunohistochemical marking alone is not sufficient for demonstration of telocyte like cells. In order to get clear results about telocytes in the ovaries, studies should be set on electron microscopical techniques, and electron microscopic findings must be supported by immunohistochemical staining, especially double or triple markers. Furthermore, it is concluded that, as telocytes are relatively scarce in number in the microenvironments they reside, for studies on telocytes, it is a must to cut the whole tissue sample into sections and to evaluate all the sections for clear and realistic results in order to fully reveal the telocyte profile in a tissue or an organ.