Nexus junctions between vascular smooth muscle cells in the media of the thoracic aorta in normal and hypertensive rats. A freeze-fracture study.
Freeze-fracture electron microscopy and image analysis have been used to study the nexus junctions (NJ) between smooth muscle cells in the media of the thoracic aorta of normal and hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats. The NJ found in both groups revealed particles on the P-face and depressions or pits in the E-face. Within each face, particle- or pit-free areas were identified in some junctions. NJ are usually surrounded by a narrow area devoid of particles and in certain fracture planes a close relationship of NJ with smooth endoplasmic reticulum was seen. Larger and more irregular NJ were found in the hypertensive group than in the controls. The differences observed in the hypertensive animals may be associated with an increase in tangential tension in the vessel wall.
Department of Morbid Anatomy, London Hospital, UK.
C L
CL
Berry
J A
JA
Sosa-Melgarejo
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure*