title: Absence of gap junctional complexes in two established renal epithelial cell lines (LLC-PK1 and MDCK).
abstract: The type of junctions present in the membranes of the two renal epithelial cell lines, LLC-PK1 and MDCK, and of subcultured porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cells have been studied by freeze-fracture. No gap junctions were observed in the two renal cell lines, while they were numerous in the endothelial cells. Tight junctions were abundant in LLC-PK1 and MDCK cells and varied in numbers of ridges from one to ten. ONly a few simple tight junctions unconnected with gap junctions were observed in PAE cells. The occurrence of gap junctions in these cells correlates with their ability to form intercellular communicating channels.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007668:Kidney / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013552:Swine