ISSN:
1432-2307
Keywords:
Intermediate filament
;
Columnar cell
;
Large intestine
;
Laser microscopy
;
Deep-etching
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The relationship between cell differentiation and ultrastructural changes of intermediate filaments (IF) was studied in columnar cells of large intestinal mucosa of rats by confocal laser scanning microscopy and quick-freezing and deep-etching method. A feature of the IF in immature columnar cells was minibundle formation with prominent branching, which organized the meshwork structures. The minibundles, which appeared to be formed by the attachment of two or more IF in side-to-side fashion, were loosely distributed throughout the cytoplasm. In contrast, in mature columnar cells, the IF were densely distributed under the terminal web in the cytoplasm and beneath the upper part of the lateral membrane regions, whereas the other areas of the cytoplasm contained only a small number of IF. Minibundle formation was not observed, and the branching was rarely identified. The changes in the distribution and density of IF, which are expressed in specific areas of mature columnar cells, apparently represent a characteristic of intracellular differentiation. It is suggested that the dissociation of minibundled IF, which was often observed in the immature columnar cells, is an important step in the acquisition of functional polarity in cells of this type.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00191350
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