Four basic tissue types: Ø Reticular lamina – more diffuse and fibrous; 1. Epithelial contains collagen III reticular fibers • Cells: Aggregated polyhedral cells Ø Basal lamina include: • ECM: Small amount a) Type IV collagen – monomers of type IV • Function: Lining of surface or body cavities; collagen self-assemble into a 2D network of glandular secretion evenly spaced subunits 2. Connective b) Laminin – large glycoproteins that attach • Cells: Several types of fixed and wandering to transmembrane proteins called cells integrins at the cells’ basal surface and • ECM: Abundant project through the network of type IV • Function: Support and protection of collagen tissues/organs c) Nidogen and perlecan – respectively, a 3. Muscular protein and a proteoglycan; both cross-link • Cells: Elongated contractile cells Laminin to the collagen network; help • ECM: Moderate amount determine the porosity of the basal lamina • Function: Strong contraction; body movements and the size of molecules able to filter 4. Nervous through it • Cells: Elongated cells with extremely fine Ø More diffuse meshwork of the reticular lamina processes contains type III collagen and is bound to the • ECM: Very small amount basal lamina by anchoring fibrils of type VII • Function: Transmission of nerve impulses collagen Parenchyma Tight or occluding junctions Ø Composed of the cells responsible for the organ’s Ø Zonulae occludens specialized functions Ø Form a seal between adjacent cells Stroma Ø Most apical Ø The cells of which have a supporting role in the Ø Seal between the two cell membranes is due to organ tight interactions between the transmembrane Ø A connective tissue except in the brain and spinal proteins claudin and occludin cord Adherent or anchoring junction Ø Zonula adherens
Ø Sites of strong cell adhesion Characteristic Features of Epithelial Cells Ø Cell adhesion is mediated by cadherins, ü Epithelial cells nuclei shapes: elliptic (oval), transmembrane glycoproteins of each cell that bind spherical or flattened each other in the presence of Ca2+ ü Columnar cells’ nuclei: elongated Ø Cadherins bind catenins that link to actin ü Squamous cell’s nuclei: flattened filaments with actin-binding proteins ü Cuboidal or pyramidal cell’ nuclei: spherical Ø “Terminal web” – a cytoskeletal feature at the Lamina propria apical pole in many epithelial cells; actin filaments Ø The connective tissue that underlies the epithelia linked to the adherens junction lining the organs of the digestive, respiratory and Desmosome (macula adherens) urinary systems Ø Resemble a single “spot-weld” and does not form a Papillae belt around the cell Ø A small evaginations projecting from the connective Ø Disc-shaped tissue into the epithelium Ø Contain large members of the cadherin family Ø Occur most frequently in epithelial tissues subject called desmogleins and desmocollins to friction, such as the covering of the skin or Ø Plakoglobins – catenin-like proteins which link to tongue larger proteins called desmoplakins Basal Pole Ø Desmoplakins bind intermediate filament Ø Region of the cell contacting the ECM and proteins rather than actins connective tissue Gap junctions Apical Pole Ø Channels for communication between adjacent cells Ø Opposite end, usually facing a space Ø Connexins – transmembrane gap junction Lateral surfaces proteins that form hexameric complexes Ø Regions of cuboidal or columnar cells that adjoin (connexons) neighboring cells Ø Permit intercellular exchange of molecules with Basement membranes small (< 1.5nm) diameter Ø A thin extracellular, felt-like sheet of Hemidesmosomes macromolecules where basal surface of all epithelia Ø Resemble a half-desmosome rests Ø Integrins link to cytokeratin intermediate Ø Semipermeable filter for substances reaching filaments rather than cadherins epithelial cells from below Focal adhesion (focal contact) Ø Provide structural support for epithelial cells Ø A basal anchoring junction found in cells that are Ø Attach epithelia to underlying connective tissue moving during epithelial repair or reorganization Ø Basal lamina – dense; 20-100 nm thick Chapter 4: Epithelial Tissue LAGRAMA | 3B7
Ø Smaller, more numerous Ø Consist of integrins linked indirectly to bundled c) Columnar actin filaments, not intermediate filaments • Protection, lubrication, Ø Integrins are also linked via paxillin to focal absorption, secretion adhesion kinase, a signaling protein which upon • Lining of intestine, gallbladder integrin binding to laminin or other specific ECM Ø Stratified epithelia – contain two or more layers proteins initiates a cascade of intracellular protein a) Squamous keratinized (dry) phosphorylation affecting cell adhesion, mobility • Protection; prevents water loss and gene expression • Epidermis • Have many desmosomes Specializations of the apical cell surface b) Squamous nonkeratinized (moist) Microvilli • Protection, secretion; prevents Ø Found in epithelia specialized for absorption the water loss apical cell surfaces • Mouth, esophagus, larynx, vagina, Ø Visible as a brush or striated border in cells such as anal canal those lining the small intestine c) Cuboidal Ø Each microvillus contains bundled actin filaments • Protection, secretion capped and bound to the surrounding plasma • Sweat glands, developing ovarian membrane by actin-binding proteins follicles Ø The actin filaments insert into the terminal web • Rare of cortical microfilaments at the base of the d) Transitional (urothelium) microvilli • Protection, distensibility Stereocilia • Bladder, ureters, renal calyces Ø Less common type of apical process • Characterized by a superficial Ø Best seen on the absorptive epithelial cells lining layer of large, dome-like cells the male reproductive system called umbrella cells Ø Increase the cells’ surface area, facilitating e) Columnar absorption • Protection Ø Much longer and less motile than microvilli and • Conjunctiva may show branching distally • Rare Cilia Ø Pseudostratified – layers of cells with nuclei at Ø Long, highly motile apical structures, larger than different levels microvilli, containing internal arrays of - Protection, secretion; cilia- microtubules not microfilaments mediated transport of Ø Primary cilium – not motile but is enriched with particles trapped in mucus receptors and signal transduction complexes for out of the air passages detection of light, odors, motion and flow of liquid - Lining of trachea, bronchi, nasal past the cells cavity Ø Axoneme – 9 +2 assembly of microtubules Secretory (glandular) Epithelia Ø Basal bodies – apical cytoplasmic structures just Ø May synthesize, store and release proteins, lipids below the cell membrane; have a structure similar or complexes of carbohydrates and proteins to that of centrioles, with triplets of microtubules Ø Unicellular glands – scattered secretory cells; and dynamic tubulin protofilaments common in simple cuboidal, simple columnar and pseudostratified epithelia Types of Epithelia Ø Goblet cells – abundant in the lining of the small Covering (lining) Epithelia intestine and respiratory tract; secretes lubricating Ø Simple epithelia – contain one cell layer mucus a) Squamous Ø Exocrine glands • Facilitates the movement of • Remain connected with the surface viscera (mesothelium), active epithelium transport by pinocytosis • Contain contractile myoepithelial cells (mesothelium and endothelium), at the basal ends of the secretory cells secretion of biologically active Ø Endocrine glands molecules (mesothelium) • Lose the connection to their original • Ex. Lining of vessels epithelium and therefore lack ducts (endothelium); Serous lining • Lack myoepithelial cells cavities: pericardium, pleura, peritoneum (mesothelium) • Specialized for either protein or steroid b) Cuboidal hormone synthesis • Covering, secretion Ø Glands can be • Covering the ovary, thyroid • Simple (ducts not branched) a) Simple tubular o Elongated secretory portion Chapter 4: Epithelial Tissue LAGRAMA | 3B7
o Duct usually short or absent containing one or more lipid droplets; seen in o Ex. Mucous glands of colon; mammary glands with merocrine secretion intestinal glands or crypts (of Ø Serous cells Lieberkuhn) • Synthesize proteins that are mostly not b) Branched Tubular glycosylated such as digestive enzymes o Several long secretory parts • Have well-developed RER and Golgi joining to drain into 1 duct complexes o Ex. Glands in the uterus and • Filled apically with secretory granules in stomach different stages of maturation c) Coiled Tubular • Stain intensely with basophilic or o Secretory portion is very long acidophilic stains and coiled Ø Mucous cells o Ex. Sweat glands • Have RER and Golgi complexes d) Acinar (or Alveolar) • Filled apically with secretory granules but o Rounded, saclike secretory these contain heavily glycosylated protein portion (mucins) o Ex. Small mucous glands • When mucins are release from the cell, along the urethra they become hydrated and form a layer of e) Branched Acinar mucus o Multiple saclike secretory Ø Seromucous glands – having both serous acini parts entering the same duct and mucous tubules with clustered serous cells o Ex. Sebaceous glands of the Transcellular transport skin Ø Transfer of ions and water in either direction • Compound (ducts with two or more across the epithelium branches) a) Tubular o Several elongated coiled secretory units and their ducts converge to form larger ducts o Ex. Submucosal mucous glands (of Brunner) in the duodenum b) Acinar (Alveolar) o Several saclike secretory units with small ducts converge at a larger duct o Ex. Exocrine pancreas c) Tubuloacinar o Ducts of both tubular and acinar secretory units converge at larger ducts o Ex. Salivary glands Ø Secretory portions can be tubular (either short or long and coiled) or acinar (rounded and saclike); either type of secretory unit may be branched, even if the duct is not branched Ø Compound glands can have branching ducts and can have multiple tubular, acinar or tubuloacinar secretory portions Ø Three types of secretion: 1. Merocrine secretion – releases products, usually containing proteins by means of exocytosis at the apical end of the secretory cells; most exocrine glands are merocrine 2. Holocrine secretion – cells accumulate product continuously as they enlarge and undergo terminal differentiation, culminating in complete cell disruption which releases the product and cell debris into the gland’s lumen; best seen in the sebaceous glands 3. Apocrine secretion – involves loss of membrane-enclosed apical cytoplasm, usually