No abstract available.
Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions* ; Tight Junction Proteins*

The contractility of corporal smooth muscle plays a critical role in human penile erectile process. Understanding the initiation, maintenance and modulation of corporal smooth muscle tone is a prequisite to improve understanding, diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Despite this fact, indentification of both the precise mechanistic basis by which various agents exert their effects on individual corporal smooth muscle cells, moreover, the process by which these signals are spread among the diverse array of parenchymal cells in the paired corporal, remain somewhat of a physiological enigma. Therefore, this article aims at: 1. to review current knowledge of the regulation of corporal smooth muscle tone at the cellular and molecular level; 2. to review various methods used in the study of gap junction channel.
Animals ; Connexins ; physiology ; Gap Junctions ; physiology ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; physiology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiology ; Penis ; cytology

The gut epithelial barrier, which is composed of the mucosal layer and the intestinal epithelium, has multiple defense mechanisms and interconnected regulatory mechanisms against enteric microbial pathogens. However, many bacterial pathogens have highly evolved infectious stratagems that manipulate mucin production, epithelial cell-cell junctions, cell death, and cell turnover to promote their replication and pathogenicity in the gut epithelial barrier. In this review, we focus on current knowledge about how bacterial pathogens regulate mucin levels to circumvent the epithelial mucus barrier and target cell-cell junctions to invade deeper tissues and increase their colonization. We also describe how bacterial pathogens manipulate various modes of epithelial cell death to facilitate bacterial dissemination and virulence effects. Finally, we discuss recent investigating how bacterial pathogens regulate epithelial cell turnover and intestinal stem cell populations to modulate intestinal epithelium homeostasis.
Colon ; Defense Mechanisms ; Epithelial Cells ; Homeostasis ; Intercellular Junctions ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Mucins ; Mucus ; Stem Cells ; Tight Junctions ; Virulence

For studies on the developmental stages of migrating erythroid cells and the development of sinusoid, transmission and scanning electron microscopic observations were undertaken on rat fetal liver in 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 days of gestation. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The hepatic sinusoidal endothelium were mainly non-fenestrated cell and fenestrated cell with diaphragm before 17 days of gestation, but fenestrated cells without diaphragm began to appear after 17 days of gestation. Two types of fenestrae were observed, free and clustered fenestrae, but both types were not involved in migration of erythroid cells. 2. Endothelial cell was continuous with neighboring cells by intercellular junctions between lateral cytoplasmic processes with zonula adherens, and between perinuclear cytoplasms with macula adherens. 3. After 13 days of gestation, Kupffer cells showed as matured cell morphology of irregular shape with long cytoplasmic processes into hepatic cord and perisinusoidal space. 4. Migrating erythroid cells in rat fetal liver sinusoid were mainly consisted of immature erythroblasts from proerythroblast to acidophilic erythroblast. The migration occurred through the migrating pores formed on the various sites of the endothelial cytoplasm into the hepatic sinusoidal lumen with no relation to the maturation stages of erythroblast and endothelial cell. In summary, the migration of erythroid cells in the sinusoid of rat fetal liver occurred through the invasion and migration pores transiently formed at various sites of endothelial cytoplasm, and migrating erythroid cells were mainly nucleated immature types.
Adherens Junctions ; Animals ; Cytoplasm ; Diaphragm ; Emigration and Immigration ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Erythroblasts ; Erythroid Cells* ; Intercellular Junctions ; Kupffer Cells ; Liver* ; Pregnancy ; Rats*

After the rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was induced experimentally in the rabbit eyes, ultrastructural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were studied with electron microscope. After 3 days of retinal detachment, apical portion of the retinal pigment epithelium was mounded and apical processes were shortened, widened and reduced in number. In other areas proliferative changes were observed in the RPE and some of the proliferated cells migrated into the vitreal space. These changes were more progressed with time. Three weeks after retinal detachment, there were areas of fibroblast-like cells proliferation with production of collagen fibers. From the evidence of cell junctions, melanin granules in the Cytoplasm and basement membrane formation, proliferated fibroblast-like cells were thought to be originated from the RPE cells.
Basement Membrane ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Intercellular Junctions ; Melanins ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium* ; Retinaldehyde*

The relationship between Sertoli cells and germ cells in varicocele remains controversial. To study this relationship in varicocele, seminiferous tubular changes were observed in pubertal rats according to the length of time after induction of the varicocele and the interval between induction and repair of the varicocele. As the length of time of the varicocele increased, accumulation of lipid inclusions within the Sertoli cell cytoplasm appeared first and then premature sloughing of the early spermatids appeared. Lastly, decrease in testicular weight and mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD) together with decrease in the number of late spermatids were observed. Inter-Sertoli cell junctions were preserved unrelated to the duration of the varicocele. When Sertoli cell changes were reversed after varicocele repair, premature sloughing of the early spermatids was not observed. The testicular weight, MSTD and number of late spermatids were significantly increased compared to controls. When Sertoli cell changes were not fully reversed after varicocele repair, premature sloughing of the early spermatids was still observed. The testicular weight, MSTD and number of late spermatids were not significantly increased compared to controls. These results suggest that the blood-testis barrier remains intact in varicocele. The Sertoli cell is the primary intratubular site of alteration leading secondarily to spermatogenic disruption in varicocele. Changes in the Sertoli cell cause premature sloughing of the early spermatids and affect maximally the spermatid Stage.
Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Cytoplasm ; Germ Cells* ; Intercellular Junctions ; Rats* ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Varicocele*

PURPOSE: To evaluate 20% ethanol toxicity on the rabbit corneal epithelium, ethanol-treated rabbit corneas were examined with electron microscopy. METHODS: Rabbit corneas(24 eyes) were treated with 20% ethanol for 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 2 minutes by using LASEK(Laser Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis) instruments, and washed with sterile water. Zero time, 1, 3, 5 days after ethanol treatment, corneas were excised and examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Widespread damage or disappearance of microvilli and local breaks of intercellular junction were observed. The changes were more severe in corneas with longer ethanol treament. In corneas with over 1 minute ethanol treatment, slough of superficial corneal epithelium was shown and increased with time. It was difficult to recognize microvilli or distinctive intercellular junction in corneas with 2 minute-treament. These pathologic changes persisted 5 days after ethanol-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, 30 seconds to 1 minute-ethanol treatment is recommended in corneal surgery to avoid severe, persisting damage of superficial corneal epithelium.
Cornea ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Ethanol ; Intercellular Junctions ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microvilli ; Water

In order to evaluate the effect on nimodipine on the cerebral vasospasm, twelve adult mongrel dogs were studied in this experiment. This animals were divided into 2 groups ; Intracisternal injection of autogenous blood(Group I : no treatment group) and intravenous nimodipine administration after intracisternal injection of autogenous blood(Group II : treatment group). Nimodipine was administered 12 hours after intracisternal injection of autogenous blood for 7 days. Dogs were sacrificed at 8th day after intracisternal injection of autogenous blood and the unltrastructual changes were studied. The results were as follows : In Group I basilar artery showed endothelial cell swelling with distruption of intercellular junction, subendothelial edema and thickening of the internal elastic lamina with marked edematous change. The pathologic changes of arteries in Group II were considered more favorable than that of Group I. These results suggest that early intravenous treatment with nimodipine is beneficial in the treatment of vasospasm of this models.
Adult ; Animals ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Dogs ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; Nimodipine* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial*

The search for a less traumatic method of cataract removal through a small incision, is on going. One of the advantages of phacoemulsification is that it permits the removal of a cataract through a small incision than otherwise possible. The small incision allows the refractive error to be stabilized sooner and reduces the amount of induced postoperative astigmatism. But it may be traumatic to the endothelium, especially in cases with hard nucleus. There is a method using the Nd:YAG laser to preoperatively soften the nucleus of the cataract intracapsularly and thereby simplyfing the technique of phacoemulsification. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of softening lens nucleus by Nd:YAG laser application for cataract operation, and we observed the change of corneal endothleium and IOP and corneal thickness according to varied intensity, and time of laser application. The authors attempted to soften the nucleus using the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser without opening the anterior capsule. The laser was focused into the center of the nucleus and 100, 150 and 200 laser shots were made with the power of 5 mJ, 7 mJ, 10 mJ and 15 mJ. The results were as follows: 1. The corneal thickness was increased to the peak 24 hours after Nd:YAG laser application in cases of 150 and 200 laser shots with 15 mJ (P<0.05). 2. Intraocular pressure was not changed in any group after Nd:YAG laser application. 3. In morphological study with scanning electron microscope, the cases of 200 laser shots with 10 mJ and 150 laser shots with 15 mJ showed moderatly decreased the number of microvilli and partial seperation of the intercellular junctions. The cases of 200 laser shots with 15 mJ showed markedly decreased the number of microvilli and partial seperation of the intercellular junctions.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Intercellular Junctions ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Microvilli ; Phacoemulsification ; Refractive Errors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Detailed characterization of the ultrastructural morphology of intercellular space in gastroesophageal reflux disease has not been fully studied. We aimed to investigate whether subtle alteration in intercellular space structure and tight junction proteins might differ among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: Esophageal biopsies at 5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction were obtained from 6 asymptomatic controls, 10 patients with reflux symptoms but without erosions, and 18 patients with erosions. The biopsies were morphologically evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, and by using immunohistochemistry for tight junction proteins (claudin-1 and claudin-2 proteins). RESULTS: The expressions of tight junction proteins did not differ between asymptomatic controls and gastroesophageal reflux disease patients. In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, altered desmosomal junction morphology was only found in upper stratified squamous epithelium. Dilated intercellular space occurred only in upper stratified squamous epithelium and in patients with erosive esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dilated intercellular space may not be uniformly present inside the esophageal mucosa and predominantly it is located in upper squamous epithelium. Presence of desmosomal junction alterations is associated with increased severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Besides dilated intercellular space, subtle changes in ultrastructural morphology of intercellular space allow better identification of inflamed esophageal mucosa relevant to acid reflux.
Biopsy ; Claudin-2 ; Epithelium ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Extracellular Space ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Junctions ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mucous Membrane ; Tight Junction Proteins ; Tight Junctions