Biomaterial Database

Association between mitochondria and gap junctions in mammalian myocardial cells. 1982

M S Forbes, and N Sperelakis

In ventricular myocardial cells of mouse, guinea-pig, dog, and monkey, mitochondria frequently form close associations with gap junctions, the two structures being separated by a space of 20 nm or less. Similar appositions are found in both the mature atria and the developing myocardium of the mouse. The gap junctions assume a variety of configurations with respect to the apposed mitochondria. These include profiles in which the gap junctions conform closely to the contours of mitochondria, as well as profiles in which finger-like sarcolemmal evaginations, composed entirely of gap junctions, extend longitudinally or transversely into an adjoining cell to envelop mitochondria. In mouse ventricular wall, over 40% of the length of gap junctions is juxtaposed to mitochondria and strands of connecting material are often present in the interspace between the two structures. In addition, in freeze-fracture replicas, portions of mitochondria are found attached to areas of myocardial sarcolemma that contain gap-junction particles. Since mitochondria are known to sequester Ca2+ ion, it is possible that the close association between mitochondria and gap junction may function to buffer the intracellular Ca2+ concentration near the gap junctions, and thereby regulate the the ionic permeability of the gap junctions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D008813	Mice, Inbred ICR	An inbred strain of mouse that is used as a general purpose research strain, for therapeutic drug testing, and for the genetic analysis of CARCINOGEN-induced COLON CANCER.	Mice, Inbred ICRC,Mice, ICR,Mouse, ICR,Mouse, Inbred ICR,Mouse, Inbred ICRC,ICR Mice,ICR Mice, Inbred,ICR Mouse,ICR Mouse, Inbred,ICRC Mice, Inbred,ICRC Mouse, Inbred,Inbred ICR Mice,Inbred ICR Mouse,Inbred ICRC Mice,Inbred ICRC Mouse
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008929	Mitochondria, Heart	The mitochondria of the myocardium.	Heart Mitochondria,Myocardial Mitochondria,Mitochondrion, Heart,Heart Mitochondrion,Mitochondria, Myocardial
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D005614	Freeze Fracturing	Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica.	Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006352	Heart Ventricles	The lower right and left chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps venous BLOOD into the LUNGS and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic arterial circulation.	Cardiac Ventricle,Cardiac Ventricles,Heart Ventricle,Left Ventricle,Right Ventricle,Left Ventricles,Right Ventricles,Ventricle, Cardiac,Ventricle, Heart,Ventricle, Left,Ventricle, Right,Ventricles, Cardiac,Ventricles, Heart,Ventricles, Left,Ventricles, Right