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Results for “apical junctional complex”

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10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1978

Extracellular coat in developing human palatal processes: electron microscopy and ruthenium red binding.

The prefusion epithelium of human palatal processes was examined for evidence of specialization which might facilitate epithelial adherence with the opposing palatal process. A surface coat stained with ruthenium red (RR) was found on all apical aspects of the palatal epithelium. In the prefusion regions, RR staining was also observed in the spaces between the superficial cells of the epithelium and in necrotic cells. Adjacent oral and nasal epithelium excluded the RR below the level of the apical junctional complex. In the absence of RR, a dense material was observed in the most superficial intercellular spaces of the prefusion region. Many superficial cells in the area were in various stages of necrosis. The combination of degenerating surface cells and an accumulation of a poly-anionic substance such as glycoprotein may facilitate epithelial adherence between opposing human palatal processes.

Cell Adhesion↗

PubMed1976

Fine structure of pancreatic adenocarcinoma induced in rats by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

We induced pancreatic adenocarcinomas in Long-Evans rats by placing crystals, 2-3 mg, of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in a 2- to 3-mm incision in the "head" of the pancreas approximately 1 cm from the duodenum. The incisions were closed with one or two silk sutures. The animals were killed 4-10 months after DMBA implantation, and nodules were removed and routinely prepared for light and/or electron microscopic study. Histologic organization varied from normal, through areas of tubule-like structures, to sheets of pleomorphic tumor cells. Electron microscopic study of tumor cells revealed large electron-lucent nuclei that frequently had irregular outlines and prominent nucleoli. The predominant feature of the cytoplasm was abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum. Zymogen granules were rare. Adjacent cells sometimes were jointed by an apical junctional complex to form a lumen into which projected irregular microvilli. A basal lamina sometimes occurred at the bases of the tumor cells. The fine structural similarity of these tumor cells to acinar cells was noted.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

PubMed2025

Deep inflations maintain surfactant function and alveolar fluid balance in lungs with reduced surfactant protein B levels during mechanical ventilation.

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is essential for surface tension reducing function of pulmonary surfactant and alveolar unfolding processes during inspiration. SP-B is reduced early in acute lung injury. Hence, we hypothesize that 1) reduced SP-B expression increases susceptibility to ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI), and 2) deep inflations (DI) are protective against VILI. Conditional SP-B knockout mice were randomized into OFF (reduced SP-B) and ON groups (normal SP-B) and subjected to mechanical ventilation at zero end-expiratory pressure. Over 4 h of ventilation, either 4 or 16 DI were administered. Lung mechanics were recorded, and pulmonary structure was quantified by design-based stereology. Inflammatory cells and bulk RNA sequencing were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tissue, respectively. No differences in inflammatory cells in BAL were detected between ON and OFF groups. During ventilation, alveolar derecruitment-related increase in elastance was most pronounced in OFF-4DI but reversible by DI so that lung mechanics did not worsen. Finally, volumes of the alveolar liquid lining layer and the intracellular surfactant were largest, whereas the surface area of the apical plasma membrane of type II pneumocytes was smallest in OFF-4DI, suggesting impaired surfactant secretion. A higher frequency of DI prevented these abnormalities. Electron microscopy revealed disorganized tight junctions between alveolar epithelial cells in OFF-4DI, which was linked with decreased expression of genes relevant to the apical junctional complex. Reduced SP-B resulted in a progressive increase in surface tension and a disturbed fluid balance without triggering definite VILI. Maintenance of residual surfactant function is highly dependent on DI in conditions of reduced SP-B levels.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is critical for efficient surfactant function in the lung. Reduced SP-B levels occur at an early stage of acute lung injury and impair alveolar unfolding. In this study, we demonstrate that mechanical ventilation of lungs with reduced SP-B levels does not trigger ventilation-induced lung injury but results in disbalance of alveolar fluid volume and increase in surface tension due to failure of surfactant maintenance. Deep inflations prevent these ventilation-induced effects.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Hearing loss associated with CDC42 in mice and humans (Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome): CDC42 and RHOQ synergistically function in cochlear hair cells.

CDC42 is involved in multiple signaling pathways, including actin organization and polarity. We previously reported progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in inner ear hair cell (HC)-specific Cdc42-knockout (Atoh1-Cre+/-;Cdc42flox/flox) mice. However, the phenotype was milder than expected, suggesting possible redundancy with other Rho-family GTPases. Thereafter, Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome (TKS), caused by de novo CDC42 mutations and manifesting as SNHL, was reported, in which the p.Y64C mutation was speculated to be constitutively active. However, the relationship between CDC42 status and hearing phenotypes in TKS remains unclear. Using cell models, mouse models, and patient data, we propose that impaired and/or dysregulated cycling between GDP/inactive and GTP/active forms, through either loss-of-function or constitutive activation, can lead to SNHL. Furthermore, to test redundancy, we generated HC-specific Cdc42;RhoQ double-knockout (Atoh1-Cre+/-;Cdc42flox/flox;RhoQflox/flox) mice, which revealed synergistic roles of CDC42 and RHOQ in cochlear HCs. Supporting this synergy, MDCK cells with CDC42 and RHOQ double knockdown showed greater phospho-cofilin, a key regulator of actin turnover, elevation than single knockdowns.

CDC42↗

PubMed1977

Fetal mouse lung in circumfusion system cultures.

Fetal mouse lungs were cultivated, using the dual-rotary circumfusion system for tissue culture, and their histotypic development was surveyed for 75 days by phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Alveoli, terminal bronchioles and alveolar macrophages were photographed periodically with still and time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy. Their histotypic appearance was confirmed by electron micrographs of the 1- and 2 1/2-month-old specimens. These revealed typical alveoli surrounded by a basal lamina and composed of types I and II pneumocytes containing various lamellar-body forms within the type II cells, the alveolar lumen, and the alveolar macrophages. There was a shift from almost all type II cells in the 1-month-old alveoli to the presence of frequent type I cells as constituents of the alveoli in the 2 1/2-month-old cultures. The terminal bronchioles were tubules consisting of ciliated cells with Clara cells interspersed between them. The ciliated cells contained as many as 30 cilia or basal bodies per section and numerous microvilli. They were attached to each other and to the Clara cells by junctional complexes and accessory desmosomes which were generally in the apical ends of the cells. The Clara cells typically had glycogen granules interspersed between lamellae of the endoplasmic reticulum, contained numerous well dispersed mitochondria, occasional lysosome-like granules and crystalloid bodies which appeared to be tubular. Some Clara cells presented a moderatley dense secretory granule in the center of the whorl of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Comparative ultrastructural investigations of the uterine epithelium in the viviparous Salamandra atra Laur. and the ovoviviparous Salamandra salamandra (l.) (amphibia, urodela).

The uterine epithelium of the viviparous Salamandra atra and the ovoviviparous Salamandra salamandra was studied in non pregnant and ovulating females and in females during different stages of pregnancy. The epithelium of both species is organized in a monolayer. The epithelial cells are characterized by a moderate secretory activity, a variable amount of apical granules which include PAS-positive material and by some apical and basal exo- or endocytotic vesicles. Adjacent cells are joined by junctional complexes. The lateral surfaces form a tortuous boundary with adjoining cells which suggest that the epithelium is involved in transport. Sporadic light cells possess highly variable cytoplasmic inclusions and are not joined with neighbouring cells. Possibly they represent migratory cells. The entire epithelium, except for a small cranial portion of the uterus in S. atra, undergoes no remarkable morphological changes during the different physiological stages examined except that flattened cells seem to be more numerous in pregnant females. The results are discussed with regard to the possible supply of the developing young by the mother.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

A second sensory--motor--interneuron with neurosecretory granules in Hydra.

Using serial-sectioning techniques for conventional transmission and high-voltage electron microscopy, we characterized the ultrastructural features and synaptic contacts of the sensory cell in tentacles of Hydra. The sensory cell has an apical specialization characterized by a recessed cilium surrounded by three rodlike stereocilia. This ciliary--stereociliary complex constitutes the receptive or dendritic pole of the sensory cell. The dense filamentous cores of the stereocilia project proximally into a narrow circumciliary cytoplasmic region connected by septate junctions to marginal processes of an enveloping epitheliomuscular cell. The central cilium has a characteristic marginal flare midway along its length and a dense filamentous substructure at its base. Pairs of branched, striated rootlets extend from the axial centriole into a mitochondria-rich region of the cell. Pigment-like granules are present in the cytoplasm around the circumciliary space. The perikaryon is characterized by an elongate nucleus surrounded by a narrow rim of cytoplasm containing prominent Golgi complexes, assorted vacuoles and dense-cored vesicles, free ribosomes, short segments of rough endoplasmic reticulum, microtubules, glycogen particles, and lipid droplets. Generally, one or two thin, naked axons extend laterally from the perikaryon into the nerve net region above the myonemes of the large epitheliomuscular cells. Within the axons are found occasional aggregates of dense-cored vesicles and en passant synapses characterized by the presence of clear or dense-cored vesicles in contact with paramembranous densities and associated intracleft cross filaments. Using these ultrastructural criteria, we demonstrated for the first time that the granule-containing sensory cells have synaptic contacts with other neurons, nematocytes, and epitheliomuscular cells hence, we considered these cells to be sensory--motor--interneurons with neurosecretory granules. We hypothesize that this unique, apparently multifunctional neuron may be a modern representative of a primitive stem cell that give rise evolutionarily to the sensory cells, motor neurons, interneurons, and neurosecretory cells of higher animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Junctional complexes in the preimplantation rabbit embryo.

The morphology and development of junctional complexes between blastomeres of the preimplantation rabbit embryo were investigated using several approaches. Electron microscopic examination of embryos stained en bloc with uranyl acetate, and the study of junction permeability using horseradish peroxidase and lanthanum nitrate provided information on structure, intermembrane spacing and permeability of the junctional complexes. In addition, the freeze fracture technique was used with day 5 and day 6 blastocysts, since the large size of these embryos facilitated use of this method. These experiments showed that although rudimentary junctions were present between blastomeres of the early cleavage stages, effective tight junctions were not present until the blastocyst stage. Electron microscopic examination of thin sections revealed apical foci of membrane approximation or "fusion" between trophoblast cells by day 4. Freeze fracturing revealed a lattice of interconnecting ridges (on the A face) and grooves (on the B face) in the apical region between trophoblast cells of the day 5 blastocyst. This lattice formed a continuous band along the apical margin of each cell, and therefore constituted a zonula occludens. The zonula occludens of the day 5 blastocyst averages 2-3 ridges per lattice, while day 6 blastocysts had lattices that averaged 5-6 ridges. Also seen in the freeze fracture replicas from the day 5 and day 6 blastocysts were local accumulations of intramembranous particles on the A face. These particles were often observed in aggregates similar to those of previously described gap junctions. It could not be determined whether these small regions of particles were true gap junctions or a possible primitive form of gap junction because the complementary pitted surfaces (B face pits) were not demonstrated.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Histochemistry of the utero-vaginal junction with special reference to the sperm-host glands in the oviduct of the domestic duck.

The "utero-vaginal junction" that connects the uterus and vagina of duck oviduct differs histologically and histochemically from the adjacent zones. The region is characterised by low, somewhat longitudinally arranged mucosal folds, lined by tall columner cilliated cells with apical nuclei alternating with mucous secreting goblet cells containing basal nuclei. Within the propria of the mucosa there are numerous tubular glands--the sperm host glands--which are responsible for sperm storage after copulation. The goblet cells of the utero-vaginal junction contain an admixture of neutral, sulfated and nonsulfated acid mucopolysaccharides, while the sperm host glands are devoid of any mucopolysaccharide and secrete complex lipoidal materials and exhibit intense acid phosphatase activity. The functional significance of the secretory materials of the sperm host glands have been discussed in the light of sperm release mechanism.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1977

Ultrastructural changes of intercellular junctions in rat ascites hepatoma cells with calcium depletion.

To analyse the effect of ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) on tumour cell adhesiveness, fine structure of intercellular junctions of rat ascites hepatoma cells AH136B and AH7974 (both forming cell islands in vivo) was first compared. The close contact of the apical portion of both cell islands was composed of tight junctions with a narrow gap. The close contact of the inner portion of AH136B cell islands was largely by simple apposition, while that of AH7974 cell islands had many intermediate junctions and desmosomes. Treatment with EDTA (2 mM) induced morphological alteration of simple apposition, intermediate junctions and desmosomes, but tight junctions remained intact. The effect of EDTA on such junctional complexes seemed to be partially reversible on readministration of Ca ions. Changes in desmosomes, as confirmed on AH7974 cells, were initiated by disappearance of the central disc of electron-dense materials, followed by marked opening of intercellular space and disappearance of endoplasmic laminar plaque. These results suggest that Ca ions may be concerned with maintaining the integrity of junctional complexes other than tight junctions.

Animals↗