Telocytes in meninges and choroid plexus

► Telocytes are a recently identified type of interstitial cells. ► We identified telocytes in rat meninges and choroid plexus. ► Telocytes form an interstitial network in the interstitium. ► Telocytes have direct cell–cell contacts with stem cells. Telocytes (TCs) are a recently identified type of interstitial cells present in a wide variety of organs in humans and mammals (www.telocytes.com). They are characterized by a small cell body, but extremely long cell processes – telopodes (Tp), and a specific phenotype. TCs establish close contacts with blood capillaries, nerve fibers and stem cells. We report here identification of TCs by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence in rat meninges and choroid plexus/subventricular zone, in the vicinity of putative stem cells. The presence of TCs in brain areas involved in adult neurogenesis might indicate that they have a role in modulation of neural stem cell fate.