Abstract
The endothelial cell junction in guinea-pig placental capillaries consists of a continuous ribbon desmosome (zonula adherens) within which lies a particulate tight junction consisting of between one and five anastomosing strands. The intercellular space at these tight junctions is narrowed and is subdivided by junctional bars which are probably continuous with the intramembrane particle rows seen in freeze-fracture replicas of the junctions. Perfusion with lanthanum salts shows the gaps between the junctional bars to be lanthanum-filled and the entire junction to be lanthanum permeable. The estimated size of the spaces between the junctional bars is consistent with the junctional pore size indicated by previous ultrastructural tracer studies. The wider lateral intercellular space of the ribbon desmosome is spanned by more widely spaced "linkers" which may act as a coarser three-dimensional filter in series with size-limiting pores between the tight junctional bars.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
