Membrane-bounded intratubular bodies in rat taste buds.
The ultrastructural features of membrane-bounded bodies contained in the tubulo-vesicular system in the outer segment of taste bud cells are described. Each body showed a round, fusiform or oval shape, was surrounded by a trilaminar membrane and enclosed an electron dense matrix sometimes containing inclusions. These bodies were found at all ages studied. Similar structures were also found embedded in the material plugging the taste pore. Our findings suggest that these bodies could be secreted at the free surface of the cells and be involved in the concentration of divalent cations.
Sbarbati
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Istituto di Anatomia Umana ed Istologia, Università di Verona, Italy.
Benati
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D
Crescimanno
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C
Osculati
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D000818:Animals; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000648:ultrastructure*