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Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
Published on: May 28, 2021
The structure of epidermal feet during their development
1The Cell Science Laboratories, Department of Zoology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7.
Tissue & Cell
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Insect epidermal cells form basal feet that create a meshwork, controlling hemolymph entry and enabling segment shape changes during metamorphosis. This cellular structure is crucial for insect development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Insect Morphology
Background:
- Insect epidermal cells exhibit specialized basal processes, termed feet.
- These feet form a complex meshwork involved in structural integrity and compartmentalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structural and functional roles of epidermal cell feet during insect metamorphosis.
- To understand the cellular mechanisms underlying segment shape transformation in insects.
Main Methods:
- Microscopy and ultrastructural analysis of insect epidermal cells.
- Investigation of cell junctions, cytoskeletal elements, and membrane dynamics.
Main Results:
- Basal feet interlace, forming a sieve-like meshwork that regulates intercellular compartment access.
- Cellular rearrangements, including junction dynamics and membrane turnover, accompany segment shape change.
- Microtubules, microfilaments, and desmosomes provide mechanical stability to the cellular meshwork.
Conclusions:
- The epidermal cell feet play a critical role in maintaining tissue integrity and regulating hemolymph filtration during insect metamorphosis.
- Dynamic changes in cell junctions and membrane structures facilitate the significant morphological alterations required for pupal development.
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