Immunofluorescence-positive TCs in the connective tissue around the interlobular ducts (CD34+, Vimentin+, and merged). (A–C) CD34+ (green), Vimentin+ (red), and merged of both showed telocytes and their prolongations abundantly scattered around ducts (arrowheads), respectively. The square-marked area 1 in (A,B,C) is enlarged in (D,E,F), respectively, and the square-marked areas in (D,E,F) are enlarged in (d,e,f), respectively. Furthermore, a spindle-shaped (cone-shaped) TC with a nucleus (arrows) and two long process (trajectories) connected with other TCs with their prolongations (arrowheads) can be observed. The square-marked area 2 in (A,B,C) is enlarged in (G,H,I), each with a triangular-shaped TC with one process. In addition, two Tps with long processes (right-sided) connected by a junction (small arrows), a nucleus (arrows), cell processes (arrowheads), and junctions (small arrows) can also be seen. Scale bar = 20 µm in (A–C); scale bar = 10 µm in (D–F); scale bar = 10 µm in (G–I).