title: Cytochemistry and freeze-fracture of membranes isolated from the electrocyte of Electrophorus electricus (L.).
abstract: Membranes were isolated from the main electric organ of Electrophorus electricus and studied by means of cytochemistry and freeze-fracture. The membrane fractions consisted of vesicles inside-in as determined by localization of anionic sites using colloidal iron and cationized ferritin particles. The anionic sites were not homogeneously distributed on the surface of the vesicle. Freeze-fracture showed the presence of intramembranous particles associated with either protoplasmic (P) or extracellular (E) faces of the membrane. Regions of the membrane without particles were observed. The results are discussed in relation to the existence of association between intramembranous particles and membrane receptors.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions; D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004593:Electrophorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D000838:Anions