Scientia Agricultura Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (11): 2526-2536.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.11.016

• ANIMAL SCIENCE·VETERINARY SCIENCE • Previous Articles    

Discovery of the Animal Acupoint “Telocyte- Entanglement Complex” and Its Ultrastructural Characteristics

DAI Meng(), MEI Lu, LU Lu, ZHU QianMei, BAI XueBing, YANG Tong, ZHANG ZhenWei, YUE JianMing, HUANG HaiXiang, YANG Min, CHEN QiuSheng(), WANG DeYun()   

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095
  • Received:2025-10-31 Accepted:2026-03-30 Online:2026-06-01 Published:2026-06-03
  • Contact: CHEN QiuSheng, WANG DeYun

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Abstract:

【Background】Clarification of acupoint essence is a core prerequisite for elucidating the mechanisms of acupuncture, yet the structural form of acupoints has not been fully clarified over the long term. Current research suggests that acupoint essence is related to specific structural systems, such as nerves, circulation, immunity, or fascia; however, these perspectives are not easily integrated. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupoints along meridians are special locations of the human body where “qi” and “xue” flow in and out. Based on the novel concept that “Telocyte (TC) is a potential meridian parenchymal cell”, this study further investigated the role of TCs and their associated structures within acupoint regions, so as to provide new experimental evidence for elucidating the material basis of acupoints and revealing the principles underlying acupuncture effects. 【Objective】The aim of this study was to clarify, using electron microscopy, the interactions between TCs and their elongated protrusion (telopode, Tp) within acupoint regions and various surrounding structural components, and to investigate whether specialized ultrastructural units related to acupoint functions exist, thereby providing a morphological foundation for elucidating the initial cellular responses to acupuncture.【Method】The study subjects included commonly used acupoints in rats, mice, rabbits, and sheep. Focusing on the ultrastructure of acupoint regions, this study primarily employed electron microscopy techniques. It examined the spatial relationships and interactions between TCs and their Tp in acupoint regions and various components, including nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, immune cells, mast cells, extracellular vesicles (including exosomes), skin derivatives, acupoint matrix, and its fibers. 【Result】TEM revealed that TC and its Tp in the acupoint frequently entangled with or accompany various components, such as nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, immune cells, mast cells, extracellular vesicles(including exosomes), skin derivatives, acupoint matrix, and fibers. Some Tp even extended into the interior of structures, directly contacting or connecting with target components to form new structural units-“Telocyte-entanglement complexes” (TCEC). Notably, TC and its Tps could simultaneously entangle with one or multiple special components, thereby forming distinct morphological units among the TCECs. The extensive connectivity characteristic of TC indicated the ultrafine evidence of the "holistic view" concept in TCM. Furthermore, TC wrapped around fibers and forms developed adhesive spots, anchoring tightly to the matrix within acupoints, which might be conducive to explaining that TC was the initial cell of acupuncture effects. This observation provided the morphological evidence for the connective and integrative functions of TC within acupoint tissues and has been preliminarily validated by acupuncture.【Conclusion】The study systematically revealed the complex spatial relationships between TC and Tp within acupoint regions and various structural components, identifying a neglected ultrastructural unit - TCEC at acupoints. This structure reflected both the integration of local cells and tissues and provided a morphological foundation for understanding the initial cellular-mechanical responses to acupuncture. The findings not only clarified the biological basis of acupoints but also provided a new research perspective at the ultrastructural level for elucidating the mechanisms underlying acupuncture effects.

Key words: acupoint, structural essence, Telocyte-entanglement complex, acupuncture verification

Fig. 1

Distribution and ultrastructural characteristics of TC and Tp in acupoint and non-acupoint regions a: Dermal TEM of the Jizhong in mice: TC cell bodies (White Pentagram) and their extended Tp (Black arrow) envelop nerves (N) and capillaries (Bv), connecting with macrophages (Mp) and collagen fibers (Cf) to form a TC-nerve-vessel-macrophage-collagen fiber entangled complex; b: Fascia TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: TC cell bodies (White Pentagram) and elongated Tp (Black arrow) encircle nerves (N), blood vessels (Bv), and pericytes (Pc), forming a TC-nerve-vessel-pericyte entanglement complex; c: Muscle TEM of the Shangjuxu in rat: TC cell bodies (White Pentagram) and their extended Tp (Black arrow) connect with muscle cells (Mc), lymphocytes (Lc), blood vessels (Bv), and collagen fibers (Cf), forming a TC-muscle-lymphocyte-blood vessel-collagen entanglement complex; d: TEM of Zusanli in rabbit: Adhesion junctions (Aj) between Tp1 (Black arrow) and Tp2 (Black arrow); Tp is finer than single collagen fibrils (Cf); e: TEM of Quchi in rabbit: TC contains well-developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria (M); f: TEM of non-acupoint area in rabbit buttocks: Distribution relationship between Tp (Black arrow), blood vessels (Bv), and collagen fibers (Cf)"

Fig. 2

TC-nerve/TC-vessel entanglement complex at acupoints a: TEM of the Neiguan in Rat: TC envelops the perineural sheath and extends into the nerve, forming a TC-nerve entanglement complex. The right shows a magnified view revealing Tp (Black arrow) penetrating the nerve and contacting myelinated (Mnf), unmyelinated (Unf), and Schwann cells (Sc); b: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Tp adheres to the perineural sheath, forming a TC-nerve entanglement complex. The right shows an enlarged view, perineural cells extending bud-like projections (Black triangle) that dock with Tp (Black arrow); c: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Tp (Black arrow) connects with nerve terminals (Ne), forming a TC-nerve terminal entanglement complex. The left shows a magnified view, direct contact between Tp (Black arrow) and nerve terminals; d: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Tp encircles blood vessels (Bv), while nerve terminals (Ne) are distributed peripherally around Tp (Black triangle), forming a TC-vascular-nerve entanglement complex; e: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Tp (Black triangle) extends longitudinally along blood vessels (Bv), forming a TC-blood vessel entanglement complex; f: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Tp (Black arrow) is distributed around lymphatic vessels (Lv) and adheres to sebaceous glands (Sg), forming a TC-lymphatic vessel-nerve ending-sebaceous gland entanglement complex"

Fig. 3

TC-Immune/TC-skin derivative entanglement complex at acupoints a: TEM of the Zhongwan in rat: Lymphocytes (Lc) distribute along the surface of TC and its Tp (Black arrow), forming TC-lymphocyte entanglement complexes. The lower inset shows a magnified view of lymphocytes extending pseudopodia (White Pentagram) migrating along the TC surface; b: TEM of the Zhongwan in rat: Slender Tp (Black arrow) encircling blood vessels (Bv), with nearby mast cells (Mc) and macrophages (Mp) forming a TC-mast cell-macrophage-vessel entangled complex; c: TEM of the Baihui in sheep: Multiple TCs and their Tp (Black arrow) extend alongside arrector pili muscles (Ap), with exosome (blue) distribution, forming a TC-arrector pili-exosome entanglement complex; left inset shows magnification; d: TEM of the Zusanli in rat: Hair follicles (Hf) are surrounded by multiple layers of TC and their Tp (Black arrow), forming a TC-hair follicle entanglement complex; e: TEM of the Quchi in rabbit: Sebaceous glands (Sg) are enveloped by multiple layers of TC and their Tp (Black arrow), forming a TC-sebaceous gland entanglement complex; f: TEM of the Danzhong in sheep: TC and its Tp (Black arrow) surrounding sweat glands (SG), collectively forming a TC-sweat gland entanglement complex; g: TEM of the Jizhong in mouse: Tp-sebaceous gland (Sg)-hair follicle (Hf)-arrector pili muscle (Ap)-blood vessel (Bv)-nerve (N) entanglement complex"

Fig. 4

TC-Muscle/TC- matrix entanglement complexes at acupoint a: TEM of the Mingmen in mouse: TC (Black arrow) - Muscle (M) entanglement complex; b: TEM of the Mingmen in mouse: TC (Black arrow) inserted between muscle cells (Mc), forming TC-muscle cell entanglement complex; c: TEM of the Mingmen in mouse: Tp (Black arrow) extends along tissue microchannels (Am), with Tp (Black arrow) inserting into collagen bundles (Cf) to form TC-collagen-matrix (containing tissue fluid) entanglement complex; d: TEM of the Zusanli in rabbit: Tp (Black arrow) wraps around collagen bundles (Cf) to form TC-collagen entanglement complex; e: TEM of the Zusanli in rabbit: Well-developed adherens junctions (Ss) between TC and acupoint matrix, forming TC-matrix entanglement complexes; f: TEM of the Mingmen in mouse: Tp (Black arrow) entangles reticular fibers (Rf) or contacts reticular fibers, forming TC-reticular fiber entanglement complexes"

Fig. 5

Changes in TC at acupoints before and after acupuncture and the interplay between needling and TC a: TEM of the Neiguan before acupuncture in rat: TC (Black arrow) - Vessel (Bv) - Macrophage (Mp) - Mast Cell (Mc) Entanglement Complex; b: TEM of the Neiguan after acupuncture in a rat: TC (Black arrow) - Vessel (Bv) - Mast cell (Mc) - Nerve ending (Ne) entanglement complex; c: SEM of fascia (Cf) extracted by fine needle (Nd); d: TEM of fascia extracted by fine needle, showing elongated Tp (Black arrow) sandwiched between collagen fibers (Cf)"

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[1] ZHANG YingXin, YANG Min, BAI XueBing, CHEN Chang, WU RuiZhi, YANG Ping, CHEN QiuSheng. Morphological Characteristics of Telocytes at Sheep Acupoints and Its Relationship with Surrounding Structures [J]. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2023, 56(7): 1417-1428.
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