Presence and distribution of vimentin in cynomolgus monkey trabecular cells.

The role of the trabecular meshwork in the ocular outflow tract has made it the object of considerable study. Recent work has examined the presence and function of microfilaments and microtubules in the cytoskeleton of cultured cynomolgus monkey trabecular cells. In this study, we used an indirect immunofluorescence technique to investigate the presence and distribution of the intermediate filament vimentin in cultured cynomolgus monkey trabecular cells. The cytoskeletal active agents cytochalasin B, colchicine, nocodozole, and taxol were also employed to investigate the role of vimentin in these cells. Vimentin formed a network of filaments that radiated throughout the cytoplasm from the nucleus to the cellular projections and cell membrane. The extensiveness of the vimentin network, and the cell shape, were observed to vary according to the degree of cell confluence, the degree of cell spread, and the degree of cell/cell contact. Cells in the less-confluent periphery had extensive vimentin networks and greater cell spreading and were polygonal in shape. Cells in the more confluent areas had a less-extensive vimentin network, underwent less cell spreading, and were primarily fusiform in shape. The change in cellular morphology induced by colchicine, nocodozole and taxol was proportional to the extensiveness and the degree of change of the vimentin network. Our observations have identified a proportional association between the extensiveness of the vimentin network, changes in the vimentin organization, and alterations in cellular morphology that is suggestive of a role for vimentin in determining cellular structure and shape.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)