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The ciliary necklace--a transmission electron microscopic study using tannic acid-containing fixation
1Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Ultrastructure and Molecular Structure Research
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Tannic acid fixation enables detailed visualization of human respiratory cilia ultrastructure, including the ciliary necklace. This method aids in studying conditions like immotile cilia syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Human respiratory cilia are crucial for mucociliary clearance.
- Immotile cilia syndrome (ICS) is a genetic disorder affecting ciliary function.
- Previous studies faced technical challenges in visualizing the ciliary necklace.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate tannic acid-containing fixation for ultrastructural analysis of human respiratory cilia.
- To investigate the ciliary necklace in human respiratory cilia, including in ICS cases.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used.
- Tannic acid-containing fixation was applied to human respiratory cilia samples.
- High-magnification electron micrographs were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Tannic acid fixation effectively visualized unit membranes, dynein arms, and protofilaments.
- Intramembrane particles and electron-dense strands, potentially forming the ciliary necklace, were observed.
- The ciliary necklace particles measured 10 nm with ~30 nm spacing in human respiratory cilia.
Conclusions:
- Tannic acid-containing fixation is a valuable technique for ultrastructural observation of the ciliary necklace in human respiratory cilia.
- This method may facilitate the study of ciliary abnormalities in diseases like ICS.