Tissue Micro-channels Formed by Collagen Fibers and their Internal Components: Cellular Evidence of Proposed Meridian Conduits in Vertebrate Skin.
Microsc Microanal
; 26(5): 1069-1075, 2020 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32883394
ABSTRACT
In order to clarify fine structures of the hypothetical meridian conduits of Chinese traditional medicine (CTM) in the skin, the present study used light and transmission electron microscopy to examine fasciae in different vertebrate species. Collagen fiber bundles and layers were arranged in a crisscross pattern, which developed into a special tissue micro-channel (TMC) network, in a manner that was analogs to the proposed skin meridian conduits. It was further revealed that tissue fluid in lateral TMC branches drained into wide longitudinal channels, which were distinctly different from lymphatic capillary. Mast cells, macrophages, and extracellular vesicles such as ectosomes and exosomes were distributed around telocytes (TCs) and their long processes (Telopodes, Tps) within the TMC. Cell junctions between TCs developed, which could enable the communication between contiguous but distant Tps. On the other hand, winding free Tps without cell junctions were also uncovered inside the TMC. Tissue fluid, cell junctions of TCs, mast cells, macrophages, and extracellular vesicles within the TMC corresponded to the circulating "" ("Qi-Xue", i.e., information, message, and energy) of meridian conduits at the cytological level. These results could provide morphological evidence for the hypothesis that "meridians are the conduit for Qi-Xue circulation" in CTM.
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Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pele
/
Colágeno
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Meridianos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Microsc Microanal
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China