Microfibrils in the myotendon junctions
- 1 January 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Cells Tissues Organs
- Vol. 102 (4), 433-439
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000145668
Abstract
Myotendon junctions in the rectus abdominis muscles of bull frogs were examined by the fixation combination of tannic acid and glutaraldehyde using electron microscopy. The features observed on myotendon junctions were the following: (1) There were many deep invaginations of muscle cell membrane at the end of the muscle fibers. Terminal thin filaments of myofibrils were attached to the electron-dense layer lining under the muscle cell membrane on the lateral walls of invaginations. (2) The basement membrane covering the muscle cell membrane was thicker in the invaginations than on the other sites of muscle fibers. (3) Collagen fibers in the invaginations gradually tapered off toward the bottom of the invaginations. But it was not seen that the collagen fibers were attached to both the basement membrane and cell membrane of muscle cells. (4) On the observations using the tannic acid-glutaraldehyde fixation, it was clearly seen that the microfibrils extend from the outer leaflets of the cell membrane to the collagen fibers in invaginations via the basement membrane. It was concluded that the myofibrils might be fastened to the collagen fibers of the tendon by the intermediates of the microfibrils.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Staining of transverse tubular system of skeletal muscle by tannic acid—glutaraldehyde fixationJournal of Ultrastructure Research, 1977
- The effect of tannic acid on electron images of capillary endothelial cell membranesJournal of Ultrastructure Research, 1976
- Some observations on the fine structure of the myotendinous junction in myotomal muscles of the tadpole tailCell and tissue research, 1976
- Microfibrils: Fine filamentous components of the tissue spaceThe Anatomical Record, 1962