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Gap junctions in human gingival keratinized epithelium
Author(s) -
Barnett M. L.,
Szabo G.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1973.tb01750.x
Subject(s) - gap junction , tight junction , junctional epithelium , epithelium , lanthanum , cell junction , chemistry , materials science , anatomy , biophysics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , medicine , inorganic chemistry , biochemistry , cell , intracellular
Gap junctions were found in all layers of human gingival keratinizing epithelium, except the stratum corneum. En bloc staining revealed the seven‐layered structure of these junctions, with a gap of approximately 20Å between the outer leaflets of adjacent unit membranes. Treatment of specimens with lanthanum strikingly demonstrated the gap junctions, since the lanthanum completely fills the central gap. Oblique and tangential sections of gap junctions in lanthanum‐treated specimens produced characteristic striated and honey‐comb appearances, respectively. It appears as though many junctions in gingival epithelium formerly thought to be variants of tight junctions (and thus regions of membrane fusion) are, in reality, gap junctions. In view of findings regarding the function of gap junctions in other tissues, it is suggested that gap junctions have a significant role in the synchronous differentiation of normal human gingival keratinizing epithelium.