CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS

The cells of connective tissue proper are diverse and have varied functions
ranging from production of connective tissue components to phagocytosis and
antibody formation because of its rich with blood vessels & forming a site for

storage of fat . Many cells of connective tissue, such as fibrocytes, remain as

resident cells in a fixed location within the tissue. Other connective tissue cells,
such as macrophages, are capable of moving through the tissue as mobile or
wandering cells.

Connective Tissue classification

 Found throughout the body; most abundant and widely distributed:

 Embryonic tissue

 Connective tissue proper

 Cartilage

 Bone

 Blood

There are types of connective

tissue cells :
Mesenchymal Cells :are small spindle-
shaped cells with large nuclei, prominent
nucleoli and fine chromatin. These are
multipotent stem cells that differentiate
as progenitor cells for all types of
connective tissue, such as fibroblasts,
osteoblasts, chondroblasts and
preadipocytes .The mesenchymal cell
population serves as a reservoir of
pluripotent cells that can differentiate into other types of connective tissue cells
as needed.

Fibrocytes and Fibroblasts:

The fibroblast is the most abundant cell of the connective tissue. It appears a
fusiform, spindle-shaped cell with an oval euchromatic nucleus, large amounts of
rough endoplasmic reticulum and a well-developed Golgi apparatus.The fibroblast
represents the synthetically active form of the fibrocyte, which is the smaller
inactive state of the cell, containing a flattened heterochromatic nucleus, and less
cytoplasm and cellular organelles.Fibroblasts synthesize and secrete the
extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, particularly collagen and elastin, that are used
to maintain a structural framework in many tissues. In addition, some fibroblasts,
referred to as myofibroblasts, have contractile properties and play a critical part in
wound healing.

Function: production of collagen, elastin and

other ECM proteins, Wound healing and scar
formation (myofibroblasts).

Myofibroblasts :
are fibroblasts that contain actin filaments associated
with dense bodies; hence, they resemble smooth
muscle cells. It is believed that myofibroblasts play
a role in contraction of the wound during healing

Reticular cells :
Reticular cells are similar in appearance to the fibrocyte . They
are stellate-shaped cells with a spherical nucleus and basophilic
cytoplasm. Reticular cells produce reticular fibers, which form
the fine structural network of organs such as the lymph nodes,
spleen, and bone marrow. These cells are fixed in the tissue and
are capable of phagocytosis. Reticular cells should not be confused with the
reticulocyte, an immature erythrocyte.

Adipocytes :
Adipocytes are also referred to as fat cells or adipose cells. Individual adipocytes
or clusters containing multiple cells are normal components of Ioose connective
tissue, but when the fat cells outnumber other cell types, the tissue is called
adipose tissue . Most of the cell is occupied by a single, large nonmembrane-
bounded lipid droplet surrounded by a thin layer of cytoplasm. The cell nucleus is
displaced to the periphery by the lipid droplet, which is surrounded by cytoplasm
that contains a small Golgi complex, mitochondria, rER , and microfilaments.

Adipocytes consist of :
multilocular adipocytes: contain a more centrally located nucleus with multiple
lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. Both the Golgi complex and rER are rather
inconspicuous, but many mitochondria are present. The high concentration of
cytochromes in the mitochondria is primarily responsible for
the brown color of aggregates of multilocular adipocytes,
which are referred to as brown fat (described below).
 Unilocular adipocytes : produce chemical
energy, whereas multilocular adipocytes
metabolize lipid to produce heat. Leptin, a
protein produced by unilocular fat cells,
regulates the amount of adipose tissue in
the body. Thermogenin, a transmembrane
protein in the mitochondria of brown fat,
channels protons away from adenosine 5'-
triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and into heat
production instead. the lipid droplets appear
as clear spaces surrounded by cytoplasm.
When rapidly processed, the lipid can be
preserved and stained with certain agents,
such as osmium tetroxide or Sudan stain.

Pericytes :
Pericytes, also known as Rouget cells or peri-endothelial
cells, are elongated cells that are located adjacent to the
endothelium lining capillaries and postcapillary venules .
The cells are surrounded by the basal lamina of the blood
vessel and make frequent contact with the underlying
endothelial cells by extending processes through the
lamina. Pericytes resemble fibrocytes in appearance but
have contractile filaments similar to smooth muscle. Proposed functions of
pericytes include regulating capillary blood flow; serving as multipotent
mesenchymal cells with specific ability to form vascular smooth muscle cells;
phagocytosing; and regulating new capillary growth. Pericytes also have the
ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and phagocytes

Mast Cells :
Mast cells are common in loose connective tissue, especially around nerve
endings and microcirculation. The cells are found in the dermis of the skin and
connective tissue of the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system. Mast cells
are large, polymorphic, spherical, or ovoid cells that
contain a prominent, centrally located nucleus.
Numerous secretory granules are present in the
cytoplasm . The remaining cytoplasm is occupied by
an extensive Golgi complex, cisternae of rER, free
ribosomes, and mitochondria. Mast cell granules
contain histamine, heparin, and various proteases.
Histamine, a biogenic amine, is a vasoconstrictor
that causes increased permeability of small
venules, thereby permitting leakage of plasma,
resulting in tissue edema. This localized inflammatory reaction is designed to
dispose of foreign antigens rapidly. Histamine also stimulates smooth muscle
contraction in small airways. Heparin, a glycosaminoglycan, acts as an
anticoagulant and is believed to stimulate angiogenesis .Three populations of
mast cells based on protease content have been identified. The mucosal mast cell
(MCT) contains tryptase only, while the connective tissue mast cell (MCTC)
contains tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase, and cathepsin. A third mast cell
type (MCC)has chymase and carboxypeptidase.
 A. In the past, the mast cell has been described as a "tissue basophil," but
despite some similarities, the mast cell and basophil are different cells.
Both cells have basophilic cytoplasmic granules that contain similar
inflammatory products. However, basophils are terminally differentiated
before they enter blood circulation, while mast cells leave the bone
marrow, pass through the circulation, and differentiate in tissues outside
the bone marrow. The mast cell can undergo mitotic division while the
basophil cannot. Also, basophils have a short lifespan of days while most
mast cells can survive for weeks to months.

Macrophages:
Macrophages are characterized by their well-
developed phagocytic ability and specialize in
turnover of protein fibers and removal of dead
cells, tissue debris, or other particulate material.
And the shape of nucleus is ovil or kidneys ,
macrophages are shown to have a characteristic
irregular surface with pleats, protrusions, and indentations, a morphologic
expression of their active pinocytotic and phagocytic activities . Macrophages
derive from bone marrow precursor cells that divide, producing monocytes that
circulate in the blood. These cells cross the epithelial wall of venules to penetrate
connective tissue, where they differentiate further, mature, and acquire the
morphologic features of phagocytic cells ,Macrophages play an important role in
the early stages of repair after tissue damage, The macrophage-like cells have
been given different names in different organs, for example Kupffer cells in the
liver, microglial cells in the central nervous system, Langerhans cells in the skin,
and osteoclasts in bone tissue In addition to debris removal, these cells are highly
important for the uptake, processing, and presentation of antigens for lymphocyte
activation, a function discussed later with the immune system. The transformation
from monocytes to macrophages in connective tissue involves increases in cell
size, increased protein synthesis, and increases in the number of Golgi complexes
and lysosomes.
Plasma cells : are spherical, ovoid, or pear-shaped cells with
a spherical, eccentric nucleus. The chromatin is often arranged
in peripherally located clumps or in centrally converging
strands that give the nucleus a "cartwheel" appearance. The
cytoplasm is intensely basophilic, and a negatively stained
Golgi region is usually present. At the fine-structural level, in
addition to an extensive Golgi complex, the cytoplasm has an abundant rER with
dilated cisternae containing slightly granular and moderately electron-dense
matetial as well as spherical inclusions teferred to as Russell bodies .

Pigment Cells :
Cells in connective tissue may contain pigments, including melanin
in domestic animals or pteridines and purines in fish. When present
in large numbers, the cells impart color to the connective tissue.
They occur in various locations such as the dermis, uterine caruncles
of sheep, meninges, choroid, and iris. Their significance is described
in connection with these organs.

CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS

It consist of several types:

Collagen is the principal fiber type in mature connective tissue. The turnover
rate of collagen is tissue-specific and can vary within the same tissue. Most
collagen digestion occurs through the action of metalloproteinases (e.g.,
collagenase) . Collagen polypeptide chains are synthesized in the rER as pro-α
chains that contain extension peptides at both ends . Multiple a chains have been
recognized. Within the rER bulges , these pro-α chains assemble into triple helices
to form procollagen molecules. The molecules are then transferred to the Golgi
complex, the Fresh collagen fibers are white, and in histologic preparations, they
stain with acid dyes. Thus, they are red to pink in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-
strained sections, red with van Gieson's method, and blue in Mallory's and
Masson's triple stains (green when light green stain is used). The Collagen fibers
are characterized by a high tensile strength and a poor shear strength, and stretch
is limited to approximately 5% of their initial length. Consequently, they are found
wherever high tensile strength is required, such as in tendons, ligaments, and
organ capsules