Skip to main content
Log in

Thick filaments in a freeze-etched vertebrate smooth muscle

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In freeze-etched vertebrate smooth muscles cells of the mouse intestine thick filaments were observed, showing a main orientation in the long fiber axis and a random arrangement within the cell. The filaments strongly resemble that obtained by thin-sectioning technique of the same tissue.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buelbring, B., Golenhofen, K.: Oxygen consumption by the isolated smooth muscle of the guinea-pig taenia coli. J. Physiol. (Lond.)193, 213–224 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, J. K.: Fine structure of smooth muscle of the chicken's gizzard. Proc. 5th Int. Congr. Electron Microscopy, Philadelphia. Vol. 2, M9 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Devine, C. E., Simpson, F. O., Bertraud, W. S.: Surface features of smooth muscle cells from the mesenteric artery and vas deferens. J. Cell Sci.8, 427–443 (1971).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gansler, H.: Phasenkontrast- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Morphologie und Funktion der glatten Muskulatur. Z. Zellforsch.52, 60–92 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heumann, H.-G.: A regular actin filament lattice in a vertebrate smooth muscle. Experientia (Basel)26, 1131–1132 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Über die Funktionsweise glatter Muskelfasern. Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an der Darmmuskulatur der Hausmaus. Cytobiologie3, 259–281 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, R. E., Rice, R. V.: Localization of myosin filaments in smooth muscle. J. Cell Biol.37, 105–116 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • — —: Ultrastructural studies on the contractile mechanism of smooth muscle. J. Cell Biol.42, 683–694 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lowy, J., Small, J. V.: The organization of myosin and actin in vertebrate smooth muscle. Nature (Lond.)227, 46–51 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moor, H.: Die Gefrierfixation lebender Zellen und ihre Anwendung in der Elektronenmikroskopie. Z. Zellforsch.62, 546–580 (1964).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, Mühlethaler, K.: The fine structure of frozen etched yeast cells. J. Cell Biol.17, 609–628 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonomura, Y.: Myofilaments in smooth muscle of guinea pig's taenia coli. J. Cell Biol.39, 741–745 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panner, B. J., Honig, C. R.: Filament ultrastructure and organization in vertebrate smooth muscle. Contraction hypothesis based on localization of actin and myosin. J. Cell Biol.35, 303–321 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • — —: Locus and state of aggregation of myosin in tissue sections of vertebrate smooth muscle. J. Cell Biol.44, 52–61 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pease, D. C.: Structural features of unfixed mammalian smooth and striated muscle prepared by glycol dehydration. J. Ultrastruct. Res.23, 280–303 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüegg, J. C.: Contractile mechanisms of smooth muscles. In: Aspects of cell motility, p. 45–66. Cambridge University Press 1968.

  • Shoenberg, C. F.: Contractile proteins of vertebrate smooth muscle. Nature (Lond.)206, 526–527 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Rüegg, J. C., Needham, D. M., Schirmer, R. H., Nemetchek-Gansler, H.: A biochemical and electron microscope study of the contractile proteins in vertebrate smooth muscle. Biochem. Z.345, 255–266 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The authors wish to thank Dr. F. Wunderlich for helpful discussions and Mrs. I. Vocke for technical assistance. The work was supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heumann, H.G., Speth, V. Thick filaments in a freeze-etched vertebrate smooth muscle. Z.Zellforsch 122, 139–144 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936122

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936122

Key-Words

Navigation