Summary
Electron microscopy of both thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas has demonstrated the occurrence of gap junctions (nexuses) in the cardiac muscle cells of the lamprey. These gap junctions are identical in basic structure with those found in the mammalian heart. However, they are much smaller (less than 0.5 μ in diameter), and more irregularly distributed than the typical gap junction in the mammalian heart. These small gap junctions seem to provide a structural basis for the electrical coupling between cardiac muscle cells in the lower vertebrates.
In addition, the well developed sarcoplasmic reticulum and subsurface cisternae, which contain an electron dense spheroidal cast, are frequently observed in the cardiac muscles of the lamprey.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baldwin, K.M.: The fine structure and electrophysiology of the heart muscle cell injury. J. Cell Biol. 46, 455–476 (1970)
Barr, L., Dewey, M.M., Berger, W.: Propagation of action potential and the structure of the nexus in cardiac muscle. J. gen. Physiol. 48, 797–823 (1965)
Bloom, G.D.: The fine structure of cyclostome cardiac cells. Z. Zellforsch. 57, 213–239 (1962)
Cobb, J.L.S.: Gap junctions in the heart of teleost fish. Cell Tiss. Res. 154, 131–134 (1974)
Dewey, M.M., Barr, L.: A study of the structure and distribution of the nexus. J. Cell Biol. 23, 553–585 (1964)
Fawcett, D.W., McNutt, N.S.: The ultrastructure of the cat myocardium. I. Ventricular papillary muscle. J. Cell Biol. 42, 1 -45 (1969)
Friend, D.S., Gilula, N.B.: Variations in tight and gap junctions in mammalian tissues. J. Cell Biol. 53, 758–776 (1972)
Hagopian, M., Anversa, P., Nunez, E.A.: Specialized intercellular junctions in the intercalated disc of the bat heart. Anat. Rec. 178, 599–616 (1973)
Lemanski, L.F., Fitts, E.P., Marx, B.S.: Fine structure of the heart in the Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 53, 37–65 (1975)
Martinez-Palomo, A., Mendez, R.: Presence of gap junctions between cardiac cells in the heart of nonmammalian species. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 37, 592–600 (1971)
McNutt, N.S., Weinstein, R.S.: The ultrastructure of the nexus. A correlated thin section and freeze-cleave study. J. Cell Biol. 47, 666–688 (1970)
Scott, T.M.: The ultrastructure of ordinary and Purkinje cells of the fowl heart. J. Anat. (Lond.) 110, 259–273 (1971)
Sommer, J.R., Johnson, E.A.: Cardiac muscle. A comparative ultrastructural study with special reference to frog and chicken hearts. Z. Zellforsch. 98, 437–468 (1969)
Yamamoto, T.: Observations on the fine structure of the cardiac muscle cells in goldfish (Carassius auratus). In: Electrophysiology and ultrastructure of the heart (Sano, I., Mizuhira, V., Matsuda, K., eds.), pp. 1–13. Tokyo: Bunkodo 1967
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work is supported by a research grant from the Ministry of Education, Japan
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shibata, Y., Yamamoto, T. Gap junctions in the cardiac muscle cells of the lamprey. Cell Tissue Res. 178, 477–482 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219569
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219569