Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigations on the fine structure of purkinje fibres in the atrium of the avian heart

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The subendocardial Purkinje fibres in the right atrium of the heart of the adult fowl were investigated by light and electron microscopy. The myofibrils often originate from the lateral cell membrane of the cells and show a spirally wound course. Their arrangement is obviously not random. In some Purkinje cells the absolute amount of myofibrils per cell is as large as in ordinary myocardial muscle cells. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is constituted by ramifying tubules. They are distributed throughout the entire Purkinje cell and contact the myofibrils, the mitochondria, and the cell membrane. At the cell membrane the sarcoplasmic reticulum forms terminal cisternae, which often possess an electron dense content. These terminal cisternae are apparently unrelated to the Z-discs of the myofibrils.

The cytoplasmic organelles of the Purkinje cell are embedded in a network of ca. 100 Å thick filaments. It is assumed that these filaments are responsible for the maintenance of the arrangement of the cell organelles. Some Z-discs of the myofibrils of the Purkinje cells are up to 0.4 μm long.

Axon terminals running between the Purkinje fibre and the fibrocytic envelope may lie only 150 Å from the fibrocytes. The fibrocytes are connected by tight junctions and desmosomes and contain fine filaments and microtubules. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abercrombie, M., Heaysman, J. E. M.: Observations on the social behaviour of cells in tissue culture: I. Speed of movement of chick heart fibroblasts in relation to their mutual contacts. Exp. Cell Res. 5, 111–131 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Akester, A. R., Akester, B.: Some ultrastructural characteristics of conducting cells in the avian heart. J. Anat. (Lond.) 108, 616–617 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Athanasiou, D. J., Dziallas, P.: Über hypolemmale Ringbinden im Reizleitungssystem des Schafherzens. Z. Zellforsch. 43, 214–227 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogusch, G.: Zur Innervation des Reizleitungssystems im Vogelherzen. Anat. Anz., (in press) (1973)

  • Bogusch, G.: The Innervation of Purkinje fibres in the atrium of the avian heart. Cell Tiss. Res. 150, 57–66 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Colborn, G. L., Carsey, E., Jr.: Electron microscopy of the sinoatrial node of the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus. J. Mol. Cell. Card. 4, 525–536 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Devis, R., James, D. W.: Close association between adult guinea pig fibroblasts in tissue culture, studied with the electron microscope. J. Anat. (Lond.) 98, 63–68 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett, D. W.: The sporadic occurrence in cardiac muscle of anomalous Z bands exhibiting a periodic structure suggestive of tropomyosin. J. Cell Biol. 36, 266–270 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrans, V. J., Roberts, W. C.: Intermyofibrillar and nuclear-myofibrillar connections in human and canine myocardium. An ultrastructural study. J. Mol. Cell. Card. 5, 247–257 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goerttler, K.: Struktur und Bedeutung der Purkinjefasern im Herzen. Verh. Dtsch. Ges. Kreisl.-Forsch. 27. Tagg 1960, S. 295–301. Darmstadt: Dr. Dietrich Steinkopf 1961

  • Gossrau, R.: Über das Reizleitungssystem der Vögel. Histochemische und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen. Histochemie 13, 111–159 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Güldner, F.-H., Wolff, J. R., Graf Keyserlingk, D.: Fibroblasts as a part of the contractile system in duodenal villi of rat. Z. Zellforsch. 135, 349–360 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirakow, R.: Fine structure of Purkinje fibers in the chick heart. Arch, histol. jap. 17, 485–499 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonecko, A.: Quergestreifte Ringbinden in Purkinje-Fasern der linken Herzkammer. Anat. Anz. 113, 332–336 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Legato, M. J.: Ultrastructural characteristics of the rat ventricular cell grown in tissue culture, with special reference to sarcomerogenesis. J. Mol. Cell. Card. 4, 299–317 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindner, E.: Submikroskopische Untersuchungen über die Herzentwicklung beim Hühnchen. Anat. Anz. 104 (Ergänzungsheft), 305–317 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindner, E.: Submikroskopische Ringbinden —funktionelle Strukturen der „Weichteilmuskulatur”. Z. Zellforsch. 88, 370–386 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindner, E., Schaumburg, G.: Zytoplasmatische Filamente in den quergestreiften Muskelzellen des kaudalen Lymphherzens von Rana temporaria L. Untersuchungen am Lymphherzen. I. Z. Zellforsch. 84, 549–562 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manasek, F. J.: Embryonic development of the heart. I. A light and electron microscopic study of myocardial development in the early chick embryo. J. Morph. 125, 329–366 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manasek, F. J.: Histogenesis of the embryonic myocardium. Amer. J. Cardiol. 25, 149–168 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, A. R.: Observations on the fine structure of the Purkinje fibres in the ventricles of the sheep's heart. J. Anat. (Lond.) 91, 251–258 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Obtinata, T., Yamamoto, M., Maruyama, K.: The identification of randomly formed thin filaments in differentiating muscle cells of the chick embryo. Develop. Biol. 14, 192–213 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitha, J.: The fine structure of clear fibroblast-like cells in the lamina propria of the small intestine. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 22, 231–239 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rash, J. E., Biesele, J. J., Gey, G. O.: Three classes of filaments in cardiac differentiation. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 38, 408–435 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rash, J. E., Shay, J. W., Biesele, J. J.: Preliminary biochemical investigations of the intermediate filaments. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 33, 399–407 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, K. C., Jarett, L., Finke, E. H.: Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol. 35, 313–323 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlote, Fr.-W.: Die dicken Myofilamente der glatten Muskelfasern von Helix pomatia. Z. Zellforsch. 92, 503–508 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, T. M.: The ultrastructure of ordinary and Purkinje cells of the fowl heart. J. Anat. (Lond.) 110, 259–273 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, J. R., Johnson, E. A.: Cardiac muscle: A comparative study of Purkinje fibers and ventricular fibers. J. Cell Biol. 36, 497–526 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornell, L.-E.: Myofilament-polyribosome complexes in the conducting system of hearts from cow, rabbit, and cat. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 41, 579–596 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Virágh, S., Challice, C. E.: Variations in filamentous and fibrillar organization, and associated sarcolemmal structures, in cells of the normal mammalian heart. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 28, 321–334 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Biologie der Universität Regensburg, Lehrstuhl für Morphologie und Anatomie, Germany

    Gottfried Bogusch

Authors
  1. Gottfried Bogusch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the “Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft” for Prof. Dr. E. Lindner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bogusch, G. Investigations on the fine structure of purkinje fibres in the atrium of the avian heart. Cell Tissue Res. 150, 43–56 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220379

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220379

Key words

Search

Navigation