ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Peripheral retina
;
Transmission electron microscopy
;
House fly
;
Membrane specializations and pigment cells
;
Photoreceptor cells
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Membrane specializations of the peripheral retina of the housefly (Musca domestica) are revealed in thin sections and freeze fracture/etch replicas. Septate junctions are abundant in corner areas of the pseudocone enclosure bonding: between homologous corneal pigment cells (CPC); between homologous large pigment cells (LPC); between CPC-LPC; between Semper cells (SC); between SC-CPC. Spot desmosomes are present between Semper cells. It is likely that septate junctions function as strengthening adhesions in this area. A new membrane specialization similar to a continuous junction was observed between retinular cells of the same or adjacent ommatidium. This junction has indistinct septa in the 115Å intermembrane cleft and is intermittent in character. When this junction is absent, the apposed cells gape apart. In freeze fracture studies, this junction is characterized by bridges composed of fused membrane particles and randomly arranged particles on the P face, and non-corresponding grooves on the E face. The ridges are elongate and roughly parallel and sometimes they form enclosures. Mitochondria line up along these junctions, often within 90Å of the unit membrane. This membrane specialization has characteristics of tight and continuous junctions. In line with previous findings, we suggest that this junction assists in retinular cell orientation, possibly in enforcing the ommatidial twist and in maintaining localized ionic concentration gradients between retinular cells.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00234194
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