[Formation of intercellular contacts in myogenesis]

Abstract

In myogenesis in vivo and in the muscle tissue culture certain intercellular junctions have been revealed; they differ in their ultrastructure and functions. For the stage of interaction between a myoblast with another myoblast contacts of adhesive type are distinctive: desmosomes and fasciae adherentes. They are necessary for adhesion of the cells with each other. Besides, gap and punctate contacts occur, serving for exchange of metabolites and electrical conjugation. At more advanced stages of fusion, when the myoblast gets into contact with the early muscle tubule, a bridge contact is observed, resembling the septal one, which is able to transform into a pentalayered (tight) junction. The latter type evidently participates in fusion of the membranes of the interacting cells.