Myoepithelial cell

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Myoepithelial cells are contractile epithelial cells with the properties of smooth muscle cells ( myo from Greek mys "muscle"). They occur in some skin glands but also in the glands of the esophagus and the respiratory tract. In contrast to "normal" smooth muscle cells, they are of ectodermal (and not mesodermal ) origin. They get their contractile properties from a smooth muscle-like cytoskeleton with gap junctions . Myoepithelial cells are found in sweat and salivary glands as well as the mammary gland . They lie between the basement membrane and the actual secretion-producing gland epithelial cells and form the so-called myoepithelium . Due to their ability to contract , they support the discharge of secretions from the end pieces of the glands.

The myoepithelial cells of the sweat glands are also known as rod cells. They lie lengthways, slightly spirally wound, on the gland end pieces. The myoepithelial cells of the salivary glands and the mammary glands are branched and encompass the gland end pieces like a basket, which is why they are also known as basket cells .

Myoepithelial cells of the vasa afferentia of the kidney corpuscles , together with the mesangium cells, produce renin , which is stored intracellularly as granules and secreted when required. Thus, myoepithelial cells are also an important part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus .

literature

  • R. Lüllmann-Rauch: pocket textbook histology ; Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2006