Immunohistochemical observation of actin filaments in epithelial cells encircling the taste pore cavity of rat fungiform papillae

摘要

Epithelial cells are connected to each other around taste pores in rat fungiform papillae. Cytoskeletal components are responsible for the maintenance of intracellular adhesion, and we investigated the identification and localization of actin filaments around taste pores. On the basis of observations made by immunohistochemical transmission electron microscopy comparing with confocal laser scanning microscopy using actin-lectin double staining, actin filaments were found to be localized, encircling the squeezed taste pore cavity, in epithelial cells a few micrometers below the papilla surface. In addition, these observations suggest that the organization of actin filaments around taste pores might be involved in the constriction of taste pores. [References: 26]