Назад Cytoskeletal components of aortic endothelial cell-
Cytoskeletal components of aortic endothelial cell. SEM image. Detergent extraction. 9,000X.

Cells of the aortic endothelial lining have been processed with a detergent, so all the membrane structures are collapsed. This harsh treatment allows detecting the filamentous components of the cytosol; in their totality they form the cytoskeleton. This term usually encompasses actin filaments (microfilaments, which are 7 nm wide), microtubules (25 nm wide), and intermediate filaments (about 11 nm wide). You can find microfilaments in the following image. This one depicts predominantly microtubules #1, #2, #3, which are situated alongside the long axis of endothelial cells, and intermediate filaments #1, #2, #3. The intermediate filament network has no regular orientation. Intermediate filaments are a large cohort including fibrillar structures that are constituted by various proteins: keratins, vimentin, proteins of neurofilaments, lamins, etc.