Mesenchymal Cells

Mesenchymal cells are specific cells of the embryonic connective tissue. They will give rise to the adult connective and supporting tissue. The mesenchyme itself originates with the mesoderm early in the embryonic development. Mesenchymal cells have little cytoplasm; their large (euchromatin) nuclei show weak basophilia and contain one or more nucleoli. Mesenchymal cells show many cytoplasmic processes: thin, branched cell processes connect with each other and form a loose, spongy network that spans an intercellular substance (extracellular matrix ) that is not specifically differentiated. Mesenchymal cells from a 10-day old mouse embryo.

Stain: Heidenhain iron hematoxylin; magnification: × 200

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .