Figure 2.

Scanning electron microscopy on cultured cells (A–C). In the primary culture, dermal telocytes (TCs) are featured by a small cell body and very long prolongations. The shape of the cellular body varies from stellate (A) to spindle shape (B) depending on number of Telopodes (Tp). Each Tp emerge suddenly from the cell body and is featured by the considerable length and the moniliform aspect – the alternation of podomers (thin segments) and podoms (dilated segments). For example, in A, the length of the entire visible Tp2 is of about 150 mm and in B, the longest Tps is of about 185 mm. Also, dichotomies are seen along Tps (white arrow) in A. The close vicinity of another TC of similar shape is noted in A. Both TCs seem to establish homocellular junction by their Tps. (C) Adversely, fibroblast is characterized by a larger cellular body with short, cone-like cellular prolongations.