Close apposition of muscle cells in the longitudinal bands of the body wall of a holothurian, Isostichopus badionotus.
Electron microscopy reveals that sarcolemmata of adjacent muscle cells form pentalaminar junctions by fusion of apposed trilaminar double leaflet membranes. These junctions appear to be candidates for low resistance pathways between muscle fibers. The muscles depolarize slowly when bathed in solutions containing elevated concentrations of KCl, and the sucrose gap method can then be used to measure the potential difference between polarized and depolarized regions. Thus the junctions which we have observed may provide the structural basis for electrical transmission through the sucrose gap.
D000818:Animals; D004447:Echinodermata / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012616:Sea Cucumbers / Q000648:ultrastructure*