title: Desmin filaments in the electrocytes of the electric organ of the electric eel Electrophorus electricus.
abstract: Desmin protein is an abundant constituent of the intermediate filaments in the electrocytes of the electric organ of the electric eel Electrophorus electricus. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against purified desmin from the electric organ and used for immunolabeling of the protein in reconstituted filaments. In thick sections of the main electric organ that has been stained with fluorescein-labeled desmin-specific antibodies, light microscope revealed a diffuse meshwork of desmin filaments dispersed in the cytoplasm of electrocytes. In the region under the membrane, the immunostaining was slightly more intense than elsewhere. The meshwork of intermediate filaments composed of desmin was examined by electron microscopy of the main electric organ. Immuno-gold labeling demonstrated a widespread meshwork of desmin filaments in the cytoplasm and in close association with the plasma membrane. These observations suggest that intermediate filaments play a role in the maintenance of the morphology of electrocytes and, as an intracellular meshwork spanning the width of the cell, they may contribute to the organization of the intracellular compartments.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21949-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benchimol
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mermelstein
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Neto
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004593:Electrophorus / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin