AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 252, Issue 1 C77-C87, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Structural effects of exposure of smooth muscle in sucrose gap apparatus
E. E. Daniel, V. Posey-Daniel, L. P. Jager, I. Berezin and J. Jury
Structural changes were studied over time of a smooth muscle tissue
(opossum esophagus circular muscle) exposed in various compartments of a
functioning single sucrose gap. The tissues in the Krebs-perfused
compartment were qualitatively normal, possessing nerve profiles with
little damage, normal appearing smooth muscle and interstitial cells of
Cajal as well as gap junctions between muscle cells and interstitial cells.
However, in the sucrose compartment tissues had serious damage to smooth
muscle, interstitial cells and nerves, and normal gap junctions
disappeared. There was also damage to all these structures in tissues
exposed to KCl, but most striking was the disappearance of most
interstitial cells. These studies raise serious questions about the
assumptions underlying the basis for functioning of multicellular tissues
in the sucrose gap.
