Some aspects of desmosomal morphology during differentiation of hamster cheek pouch epithelium

Desmosomes function as intercellular attachment devices. In keratinised epithelia, squames are shed from the surface and these are replaced by less differentiated cells of the basal or parabasal layers, which migrate progressively towards the surface. In order to perform these migratory activities, cellular movement must occur, with the implication that cells must be able to make and break their desmosomal attachments. The present study investigates desmosomal ultrastructure with the objective of suggesting mechanisms by which desmosomes are altered during differentiation. The majority of desmosomes in basal, spinous and granular layers were similar in morphology, with differences being quantitative rather than qualitative. Desmosomes appeared to be more frequent and of smaller dimensions in granular cells when compared with those present on cells from lower strata. Upon keratinisation, desmosomal cytoplasmic structural specialisations disappeared and the intercellular contact layer became more prominent. A number of features which might represent desmosomal formation or synthesis were observed in nucleated cellular layers. These included an apparent budding or fusing of attachment plaques from existing desmosomes. Asymmetrical attachment plaques were prevalent with a markedly reduced number of tonofilaments associated with one plaque or an attachment plaque which was generally or locally reduced in electron density. Other appearances suggested that de novo desmosomal formation occurred as a result of the production of either single or paired attachment plaques, often containing fine filaments extending for a short distance into the cytoplasm. In view of the increased frequency of desmosomes in granular cells, the majority of these desmosomal abnormalities may represent synthetic rather than degradative activities.