Scanning electron microscopic studies on the formation of cardiac intercellular connection in culture

The fine surface structural appearance of the cardiac intercellular connection was studied scanning electron microscopically in culture. When individual heart cells contract each other, they start to beat synchronically. On the base of scanning electron microscopic observation, the early pattern of the formation of it could be suggested as follows: five ramified processes extend from the edge of the cells, and the ends of these processes bridge each other to form the intercellular connection.