Some observations on the intercalated disc of a rat cardiac muscle

During the experimental investigations special attention was paid to the orthomorphology of the ultrastructure of cardiac muscle intercalated disc in a rat. The contact junction between the cellular membranes of adjacent cells and intercellular spaces are typical for the cardiac muscle intercalated disc. Attention was paid to the three zone system of the junctions, namely: 1. nexus (zonula occludens), 2. fascia adherens (zonula adherens) and 3. macula adherens (similar to the desmosome). Apart from this the cell membranes adjacent to the cells may form digital indentations. A single injection of adrenaline in a dose of 2.4 mg/kg causes sinuate widenings of the intercellular space, but only in the zone of the fascia adherens. The structure of the nexuses and maculae adherentes is unchanged during this time.