Freeze-fracture replica of the rat cornea.
The fine structures of the rat cornea, with special reference to their intercellular junctions, were studied using the freeze-fracture technique. At the corneal epithelium, gap junctions could be observed between the adjacent cells. At the stroma, crater-shaped depressions (between 300 and 500 A diameter) with pipe-like appearing structures connecting the lamellae were found. Intercellular junctions existing between the endothelial cells at the area near the anterior chamber are postulated to be the fascia (macula) occludens.
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats