Figure 4.
Characterization of Kit+, CD44+ and CD34+ cells in the murine small intestine. (A&D) Identification of Kit+-ICC networks (arrows) in intestines of wildtype mice (green, arrows). Kit labeled an identical population of CopGFP+ cells. (B) CD44 immunohistochemical analysis revealed a network of cells resembling ICC-MY (arrows). (C) Double labeling with Kit revealed cellular co-localization with CD44 in ICC-MY (yellow, arrows). (E) CD34 immunohistochemistry labeled smooth muscle cells within the circular and longitudinal layers (arrows) and a stellate or multi-polar cell population (arrowheads), likely to represent fibroblast-like cells. Examination of large areas of tissues did not reveal the presence of groups of small rounded KitlowCD34+ cells. (F) Double labeling (merged images) of Kit and CD34 did not reveal cellular co-localization (arrows) in the multi-polar cells. Scale bars represent 50μm in all panels.