objective(s): to study the c-kit expression in the gallbladder of cholesterol lithogenic guinea pig model and the effect of artemisia capillaris thunb on interstitial cells of cajal (iccs). materials and methods:a total of 45 guinea pigs were randomly assigned into three groups: the control group (guinea pigs fed a standard diet, normal group); the model group (guinea pigs fed a cholesterol gal...

Microvascular pericytes are believed to be involved in various functions such as regulation of capillary blood flow and endothelial proliferation. Since pericytes represent a morphologically heterogeneous cell population ranging from circular smooth musclelike to elongated fibroblast-like morphology it is possible that regulation of blood flow (via contractility) and control of endothelial prol...