Tissue Micro-channels Formed by Collagen Fibers and their Internal Components: Cellular Evidence of Proposed Meridian Conduits in Vertebrate Skin

被引：13

作者：

Bai Xuebing ^{[1
]}

Wu Ruizhi ^{[1
]}

Zhang Yue ^{[1
]}

Liang Chunhua ^{[1
]}

Shi Yonghong ^{[1
]}

Zhang Yingxin ^{[1
]}

Ding Baitao ^{[1
]}

Tarique, Imran ^{[1
]}

Ping, Yang ^{[1
]}

Chen Qiusheng ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Nanjing Agr Univ, Coll Vet Med, MOE Joint Int Res Lab Anim Hlth & Food Safety, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, Peoples R China

来源：

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS | 2020年 / 26卷 / 05期

基金：

中国国家自然科学基金;

关键词：

Chinese traditional medicine; collagen fiber; meridian conduit; telocyte; tissue micro-channel; TELOCYTES; COMMUNICATION; BRAIN; CELLS;

D O I：

10.1017/S1431927620024381

中图分类号：

T [工业技术];

学科分类号：

08 ;

摘要：

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.

引用

页码：1069 / 1075

页数：7

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