Freeze-fracture study of the hamster ovary surface epithelium intercellular junctions

The apical intercellular junctions between the hamster ovary surface epithelial cells were studied by freeze-fracture. The results showed tight junctions consisting of intertwining ridges on P faces and complementary furrows on E faces. Typical gap junctions, in the form of clusters of particles on P faces and complementary pits on E faces, were also observed associated with the tight junctional elements. Sometimes the gap junction are the outermost element of the junctional complexes. These observations explain data previously obtained in tracer experiments with lanthanum.