Cell-to-cell coupling through low-resistance junctions represents a very old mechanism of
intercellular communication. In sponges and medusae, for instance, without nervous tissue …

Gap junctions are intercellular structures that link cells and allow them to exchange ions and
small metabolites without recourse to the extracellular space (for reviews and early …

The gap junctions that electrically couple mammalian myocardial cells have high (12,000–
17,000/micron2) surface densities of channel-containing elements (connexons), undulating …

By comparing in situ negative staining of mammalian heart muscle using La (NO3) 3 with
conventional positive staining by uranium and lead salts, we showed that 1) the membrane …

Electron microscopy has revealed several different kinds of morphologically distinguishable
plasma membrane modifications which are involved in cell-cell interactions. In general …

Paired intercellular transmembrane channels, termed connexons, comprised of hexameric
assemblies of gap junction protein, were isolated and purified from rat liver by exploiting …

An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to study the structure of isolated hepatic gap
junctions in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The thickness of these gap junctions appears …

We have combined freeze-fracture and electrophysiological methods in a study of gap
junction formation between reaggregated Novikoff hepatoma cells. Cell clumps are …

Traditionally, all gap junctions have been considered to be identical in structure and function
throughout the animal kingdom. Functions ascribed to these membrane specializations have …

Ionic coupling, a widespread mechanism for intercellular communication, is believed to be of
major importance in the control of growth and of development (see reviews by Bennett …