The formation of septate-like junctional complexes between lymphoid cells in vitro.
During the initial 48 hr of incubation in immunized Mishell-Dutton spleen cell cultures, most lymphocytes exist as single cells or an occasional pair of cells (doublets). Ultrastructural examination of the area between those cells forming doublets revealed a septate-like junctional complex occurring over large portions of the plasmalemma. This junctional zone persisted in areas where extensive cytoplasmic interdigitation among cell processes was evident. Approximately 1% of the lymphocytes isolated from the top fraction of a discontinuous fetal calf serum gradient were involved in formation of doublets. The majority of these doublets showed evidence of junctional interaction. Moreover, this septate-like zone of adhesion was seen using several different fixatives and stains and remained intact after osmotic cell disruption. The junction was not demonstrable by using freeze-fracture techniques and therefore must be limited to interactions within the surface of the cells.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL