Filamentous contacts containing subjunctional dense lattice and tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum in cat lateral geniculate nuclei.
Ultrastructure of filamentous contacts was examined in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. This intercellular contact was classified into two types, asymmetrical and symmetrical, according to its fine structure. (1) The asymmetrical filamentous contact had a different fine structure on the cytoplasmic sides of its apposed membranes. This sort of contact occurred between the postsynaptic components of principal cells and the presynaptic terminals of either optic nerve or interneurons. The membrane on the presynaptic side showed a wavy outline. Plaques of cytoplasmic density were located on the crests of the wave. On the postsynaptic side cytoplasmic dense material formed a regularly arranged latticework on the membrane, 'subjunctional dense lattice'. The dense lattice was closely associated with underlying smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, so as to form a subjunctional complex consisting of these 3 organelles. Two filamentous structures, neurofilaments and microtubules, enter and leave this subjunctional complex. (2) The symmetrical filamentous contact occurred between two principal cell components. Nearly the same fine structural arrangement as that on the postsynaptic side of the asymmetrical contact was present in the cytoplasm on the both sides of this junction.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology