Summary
Regularly, four different types of cellular contacts are found in synovial folds and villi of the cubital joint of the cat (interdigitations, desmosomes, intermediate junctions, gap junctions). The same types of contact-with the exception of intermediate junctions — occur sporadically also in synovial fat folds of the knee joint of the rabbit. In both species, hemidesmosomes and discontinuous basement membranes are seen in the synovial lining layer. Cellular contacts predominate between A-cells and cells of the intermediate type, hemidesmosomes and incomplete basement membranes predominate in intermediate cells and B-cells. The latter are rare in A-cells.
The importance of such contacts for mechanical, metabolic and electrical interactions of cellular elements in the synovial membrane is discussed. No unanimous concept as to their function can be advanced at present.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aschoff, L.: Spezielle Pathologische Anatomie, 4. Aufl. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel 1919
Auböck, L., Fladerer, H., Klein, G.: Neue ultrastrukturelle Befunde an der Synovialis bei progredient chronischer Polyarthritis. Z. Rheumatol. 33, 87–106 (1974)
Barland, P., Novikoff, A.B., Hamerman, D.: Electron microscopy of the human synovial membrane. J. Cell Biol. 14, 207–220 (1962)
Bierther, M.F.W., Streit, W.: Die Synovialis bei chronischer Polyarthritis. Elektronenmikroskopische Befunde und ihre Deutung. Dtsch. med. Wschr. 97, 453–456 (1972)
Braun, H.: Untersuchungen über den Bau der Synovialmembran und Gelenkknorpel sowie über die Resorption flüssiger und fester Körper aus den Gelenkhöhlen. Dtsch. Z. Chir. 39, 35–83 (1894)
Bustos-Obregón, E., Holstein, A.F.: On structural patterns of the lamina propria of human seminiferous tubules. Z. Zellforsch. 141, 413–425 (1973)
Farquhar, M.G., Palade, G.E.: Glomerular permeability. II. Ferritin transfer across the glomerular capillary wall in nephrotic rats. J. Exp. Med. 114, 699–716 (1961)
Farquhar, M.G., Palade, G.E.: Junctional complexes in various epithelia. J. Cell Biol. 17, 375–412 (1963)
Farquhar, M.G., Palade, G.E.: Cell junctions in amphibian skin. J. Cell Biol. 26, 263–291 (1965)
Frei, J.V.: The fine structure of basement membrane in epidermal tumors. J. Cell Biol. 15, 335–342 (1962)
Gabbiani, G., Ryan, G.B., Majno, G.: Presence of modified fibroblasts in granulation tissue and their possible role in wound contraction. Experientia (Basel) 27, 549–550 (1971)
Ghadially, F.N., Roy, S.: Ultrastructure of rabbit synovial membrane. Ann. rheum. Dis. 25, 318–326 (1966)
Ghadially, F.N., Roy, S.: Ultrastructure of synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann. rheum. Dis. 26, 426–443 (1967)
Gilula, N.B., Reeves, O.R., Steinbach, A.: Metabolic coupling, ionic coupling and cell contacts. Nature 235, 262–265 (1972)
Gorgas, K., Böck, P.: Myofibroblasts in the rat testicular capsule. Cell Tiss. Res. 154, 533–541 (1974)
Güldner, F.H., Wolff, J.R., Urlingk, Graf, D.: Fibroblasts as a part of the contractile system in duodenal villi of rat. Z. Zellforsch. 135, 349–360 (1972)
Halata, Z., Groth, H.-P.: Cat joint-capsule: Innervation of the synovial membrane. An ultrastructural study. In preparation
Hammar, J.A.: Über den feineren Bau der Gelenke. Arch. micr. Anat. 43, 266–325 (1894)
Hueter, C.: Zur Histologie der Gelenkflächen und Gelenkkapsel, mit einem kritischen Vorwort über die Versilberungsmethode. Virchows Arch. path. Anat. 36, 25–80 (1866)
Ito, S., Winchester, R.J.: The fine structure of the gastric mucosa of the bat. J. Cell Biol. 16, 541–578 (1963)
Kaufmann, E.: Lehrbuch der speziellen pathologischen Anatomie, 7. und 8. Aufl. Berlin: Walter deGruyter 1922
Klein, W., Huth, F.: The ultrastructure of malignant synovioma. Beitr. Path. 153, 194–202 (1974)
Langer, E., Huth, F.: Untersuchungen über den submikroskopischen Bau der Synovialmembran. Z. Zellforsch. 51, 545–559 (1960)
Leak, L.V., Burke, J.F.: Ultrastructural studies on the lymphatic anchoring filaments. J. Cell Biol. 36, 129–149 (1968)
Le Gros Clark, W.E.: The tissues of the body, 2nd Edit. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1945
Lever, J.D., Ford, E.H.R.: Histological, histochemical and electron microscopic observations on synovial membrane. Anat. Rec. 132, 525–540 (1958)
Low, F.N.: Developing boundary (basement) membranes in the chick embryo. Anat. Rec. 159, 231–238 (1967)
Luckenbill, L., Cohen, A.: Phagocytotic function of the avian synovial membrane. Arthr. Rheumat. 10, 517–537 (1967)
McNutt, N.S., Weinstein, R.S.: Membrane ultrastructure at mammalian intercellular junctions. Progr. Biophys. Molec. Biol. 26, 45–101 (1973)
Majno, G., Gabbiani, G., Hirschel, B.J., Ryan, G.B., Statkov, P.R.: Contraction of granulation tissue in vitro: similarity to smooth muscle. Science 173, 548–550 (1971)
Maximow, A.: Bindegewebe und blutbildende Gewebe. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen II/1, (W. v. Möllendorff, ed.). Berlin: Springer 1927
Norton, W.L., Ziff, M.: Electron microscopic observations on the rheumatoid synovial membrane. Arthr. and Rheumatism 9, 589–610 (1966)
Overton, J.: Cell junctions and their development. Progr. in Surface and Membrane Science 8, 161–208 (1974)
Palade, G.E.: Blood capillaries of the heart and other organs. Circulation 24, 368–384 (1961)
Palmer, D.G.: Synovial villi: an examination of these structures within the anterior compartment of the knee and metacarpo-phalangeal joints. Arthr. and Rheum. 10, 451–458 (1967)
Petersen, H.: Die Organe des Skelettsystems. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen II/2, (W. v. Möllendorff, ed.), 648–678. Berlin: Springer 1930
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Roy, S., Ghadially, F.N.: Ultrastructure of normal rat synovial membrane. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 26, 26–38 (1967)
Ryan, G.B., Cliff, W.J., Gabbiani, G., Irlé, C., Montandon, D., Statkov, P.R., Majno, G.: Myofibroblasts in human granulation tissue. Human path. 5, 55–67 (1974)
Sheridan, J.D.: Electrical coupling between fat cells in newt fat body and mouse brown fat. J. Cell Biol. 50, 795–803 (1971)
Staehelin, L.A.: Structure and function of intercellular junctions. Int. Rev. Cytol. 39, 191–283 (1974)
Tillmanns, H.: Die Lymphgefäße der Gelenke. Arch. mikr. Anat. 12, 649–664 (1878)
Wassilev, W.: Elektronenmikroskopische und histochemische Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung des Kniegelenkes der Ratte. Z. Anat.-Entwickl.-Gesch. 137, 221–238 (1972)
Wassilev, W.: Veränderungen der Synovialmembran-Feinstruktur nach funktioneller Belastung. Presentation at 70. Versammlung d. Anat. Ges. in Düsseldorf 1975
Wyllie, J., More, R., Haust, D.: The fine structure of normal guinea pig synovium. Lab. Invest. 13, 1254–1263 (1964)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I am indebted to Prof. Dr. H.G. Baumgarten, Abteilung für Neuroanatomie, Universität Hamburg, for the translation of the manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Groth, HP. Cellular contacts in the synovial membrane of the cat and the rabbit: An ultrastructural study. Cell Tissue Res. 164, 525–541 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219943
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219943