Biomaterial Database

Intermediate voltage electron microscopy of transverse tubules at myotendinous junctions. 1993

M Sonoda, and H Moriya, and Y Shimada

Department of Anatomy/Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.

The 3-dimensional distribution of transverse (T) tubules at myotendinous junctions (MTJs) was studied by intermediate voltage (400 kV) electron microscopy of thick sections of rat vastus intermedius and chicken pectoralis muscles stained with lanthanum nitrate. Transversely oriented T tubules were seen to run at the level of A-I junctions (the rat vastus intermedius) and Z bands (the chicken pectoralis), but were absent from such levels adjacent to the end of MTJ processes. These tubules opened to the lateral wall of sarcolemmal infoldings of MTJs and to the lateral cell surface. Longitudinally running T tubules were seen to connect with the transverse T tubules and to open at the bottom of junctional folds. The lack of T tubules at the final sarcomeric regions seems to indicate that the terminal sarcomeric half in close proximity to MTJs may be activated from the sarcoplasmic reticulum which forms couplings with the MTJ sarcolemma and/or longitudinal tubules in the MTJ processes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007811	Lanthanum	The prototypical element in the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol La, atomic number 57, and atomic weight 138.91. Lanthanide ion is used in experimental biology as a calcium antagonist; lanthanum oxide improves the optical properties of glass.
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
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings
D013710	Tendons	Fibrous bands or cords of CONNECTIVE TISSUE at the ends of SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS that serve to attach the MUSCLES to bones and other structures.	Endotenon,Epotenon,Tendons, Para-Articular,Tendons, Paraarticular,Endotenons,Epotenons,Para-Articular Tendon,Para-Articular Tendons,Paraarticular Tendon,Paraarticular Tendons,Tendon,Tendon, Para-Articular,Tendon, Paraarticular,Tendons, Para Articular
D016707	Tissue Fixation	The technique of using FIXATIVES in the preparation of cytologic, histologic, or pathologic specimens for the purpose of maintaining the existing form and structure of all the constituent elements.	Fixation, Tissue
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus