Fig. 4: Detailed morphology of TNTs and various fine side branches associted with TNTs connecting cells. | Laboratory Investigation

Fig. 4: Detailed morphology of TNTs and various fine side branches associted with TNTs connecting cells.

From: In vitro and in vivo detection of tunneling nanotubes in normal and pathological osteoclastogenesis involving osteoclast fusion

Fig. 4

a Typical morphology of TNT formed between two osteoclast precursors (arrows). Boxed areas of (a1, 3) were shown no special synapse-like structures between the cell body and TNT. Formation of the beaded bulge-like structure was observed in TNT boxed area of (a2). b, c The course of TNTs between osteoclast precursors or osteoclasts is straight or curved. In addition to the connection between the cells as the intercellular bridge, several fine side branches were observed in each TNT (b–d arrows). d A part of which was connected to the adjacent cells (d arrows). e, f Some TNTs were likely to pass-through on some cells without forming direct connections (arrowhead). Some TNTs connected two cells directly by using tips of each filopodia (g arrows) or using lamellipodia-like tips (h arrow). Some TNTs connected with multiple osteoclast precursors through fine side branches (i arrows). Scale bars: 10 µm (a–i).

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