家兔晶状体纤维的超微结构:纤维细胞的间隙连接

本文报道晶状体纤维细胞间间隙连接的形态结构。我们利用冰冻断裂技术,在不同部位的球-和-凹连结的头部以及在纤维细胞和纤维细胞之间都观察到间隙连接的存在。通过极其丰富的上述连接,可实现细胞间代谢物和离子的传递。作者认为:对正常晶状体纤维细胞之间的间隙连接的深入了解,将会为晶状体发病机制的研究提供新的线索。

ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE RABBIT LENS FIBERS: THE GAP JUNCTIONS OF THE LENS FIBER CELLS

The morphology of the gap junctions in the fiber cell membranes was investigated. The junctions were seen in freeze-fracture replicas. The results may be summarized as follow:1. Using freeze-fracture techniques, we Have found that many gap junctions are present not only at the "ball-and-socket" junctions but also between the adjecent fiber cells. These fibers are conjoined by an astronomical number of gap junctions.2. The fiber cells of the adult rabbit lens show an extremely large number of gap junctions. These junctions are characterized by a dense aggregation of intramembrane particles with uniform-size. Owing to the presenc of gap junctions in extensive areas of the fiber cells, it is suggested that the cytoplasm of the lens fibers is probably a functional syn-cytium.3. Tight junctions have not been observed in these preparations. The gap junction is believed to represent a true mechanism for cell attachment.