Abstract
Smooth muscle cells of the mouse vas deferens fixed with 5% glutaraldehyde contained three types of filaments, namely, thin (50-80) A) filaments, intermediate (100 A) filaments and thick (120-180 A) filments. However, in 2 out of 16 experiments, under identical conditions, the cells did not contain thick filaments. With OSO4 fixation, thin filaments were not prominent, the most obvious being thick (120-250 A) and intermediate (100 A) filaments. After soaking in a modified Ringer solution under no applied tension for one hour, thick filaments (120-180 A) appeared prominently in smooth muscle cells of the mouse vas deferens and thin filaments were in ordered bundles. By 4 hours, thick filaments had increased in size and density, with thin filaments distributed randomly around them. After 8 hours in Ringer, thin filaments were diffuse and difficult to discern, while thick filaments were large (up to 300 A) and electron-dense. Intermediate (100 A) filaments were present in association with dark bodies. Physiological experiments indicated that the intracellular components responsible for the development of a mechanical response were still functional at this time. The presence of "thick filaments" is also reported in degenerating smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig vas deferens in tissue culture.
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.
