Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

Intercellular junctions in the ciliary epithelium.

G Raviola, E Raviola

    Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
    |October 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary

    The ciliary epithelium

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Development of a comprehensive, sustained community mental health system in post-earthquake Haiti, 2010-2019.

    Global mental health (Cambridge, England)·2020
    Same author

    Preparing to launch the 'Thinking Healthy Programme' perinatal depression intervention in Urban Lima, Peru: experiences from the field.

    Global mental health (Cambridge, England)·2019
    Same author

    Mental disorders and drug/alcohol use in patients commencing extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment.

    Public health action·2017
    Same author

    Physiological importance of a circadian clock outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

    Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2008
    Same author

    [Herpes zoster of the trigeminal nerve: a case report and review of the literature].

    Minerva stomatologica·2004
    Same author

    Extrasynaptic release of dopamine in a retinal neuron: activity dependence and transmitter modulation.

    Neuron·2001
    JoVE
    x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
    ABOUT JoVE
    OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
    AUTHORS
    Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
    LIBRARIANS
    TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
    RESEARCH
    JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
    EDUCATION
    JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
    Terms & Conditions of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Policies

    Area of Science:

    • Ophthalmology
    • Cell Biology
    • Histology

    Background:

    • The ciliary epithelium plays a crucial role in aqueous humor production and maintaining ocular homeostasis.
    • Understanding the structure of intercellular junctions is vital for comprehending the barrier function and cell communication within this tissue.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To elucidate the detailed fine structure of intercellular junctions in the ciliary epithelium of rhesus monkeys and rabbits.
    • To compare junctional complexes between nonpigmented and pigmented cells and between species.

    Main Methods:

    • Conventional electron microscopy of thin-sectioned specimens.
    • Freeze-fracturing technique for high-resolution membrane structure analysis.

    Main Results:

    • Identified zonula occludens, zonula adhaerens, gap junctions, and desmosomes in rhesus monkey ciliary epithelium.
    • Observed variations in zonula occludens complexity, suggesting potential leakiness.
    • Found ubiquitous gap junctions, indicating a metabolic syncytium, particularly numerous between cell layers.
    • Desmosomes were absent in rabbit nonpigmented cells, replaced by puncta adhaerentia.
    • Characterized puncta adhaerentia as macular junctions associated with microfilaments, distinct from desmosomes.

    Conclusions:

    • The ciliary epithelium exhibits species-specific variations in intercellular junctional complexes.
    • The structure of the zonula occludens suggests a degree of permeability in the ciliary epithelium.
    • Abundant gap junctions highlight extensive cell-to-cell communication, forming a metabolic syncytium.
    • Puncta adhaerentia likely serve as anchoring sites for the contractile apparatus in rabbit ciliary epithelium.

    Related Experiment Videos