Atomic force microscopy of Mammalian urothelial surface.
The mammalian urothelium apical surface plays important roles in bladder physiology and diseases, and it provides a unique morphology for ultrastructural studies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an emerging tool for studying the architecture and dynamic properties of biomolecular structures under near-physiological conditions. However, AFM imaging of soft tissues remains a challenge because of the lack of efficient methods for sample stabilization. Using a porous nitrocellulose membrane as the support, we were able to immobilize large pieces of soft mouse bladder tissue, thus enabling us to carry out the first AFM investigation of the mouse urothelial surface. The submicrometer-resolution AFM images revealed many details of the surface features, including the geometry of the urothelial plaques that cover the entire surface and the membrane interdigitation at the cell borders. This interdigitation creates a membrane zipper, likely contributing to the barrier function of the urothelium. In addition, we were able to image the intracellular bacterial communities of type 1-fimbriated bacteria grown between the intermediate filament bundles of the umbrella cells, shedding light on the bacterial colonization of the urothelium.
Kreplak
Laurent
L
M.E. Müller Institute for Structural Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Wang
Huaibin
H
Aebi
Ueli
U
Kong
Xiang-Peng
XP
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane; D003101:Collodion; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D003101:Collodion