title: Morphological study of intercellular junctions during osteocyte differentiation.
abstract: Ultrastructural studies were carried out on intercellular relationships during osteocyte differentiation in primary parallel-fibred bone of newborn rabbit. It was found that throughout the whole differentiative process preosteocytes are in close relationship with the neighboring cells (osteoblasts, osteocytes) by means of variously-shaped intercellular contacts (invaginated finger-like, side-to-side, and end-to-end) and two types of specialized junctions: gap and adherens. The pivotal role played by these contacts and junctions in osteocyte differentiation and activity is considered in the context of their particular functional significance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palazzini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011817:Rabbits