Author/Editor		Romih, Rok; Veranič, Peter; Jezernik, Kristijan
Title		Actin filaments during terminal differentiation of urothelial cells in the rat urinary bladder
Type		članek
Source		Histochem Cell Biol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 112
Publication year		1999
Volume		str. 375-80
Language		eng
Abstract		The localisation of actin filaments was studied in rat urothelial cells during differentiation which accompanied regeneration after cell damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP). By immunofluorescence it was established that actin filaments equally stained along the cell circumference in basal and intermediate cells, while basolateral cell membrane expression was found in terminally differentiated superficial cells. During regeneration, after CP treatment, simple urothelial hyperplasia developed with smaller cuboidal superficial cells, in which actin filaments were equally distributed under the apical and basolateral plasma membranes. As demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy, the apical surface of these superficial cells was covered with microvilli containing bundles of actin filaments. Within 1 week, the urothelium reverted to its normal three-layer thickness. Superficial cells became larger and flattened and the unthickened apical plasma membrane matured into a thick asymmetric unit membrane. Concomitantly actin filaments disappeared from apical areas of superficial cells while remaining abundant at basolateral areas. Our results indicate that in the urothelium subcellular distribution of actin filaments can be considered as a marker of cell differentiation.
Descriptors		BLADDER UROTHELIUM ACTINS CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE RATS, WISTAR MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE