Distribution of cytoplasmic microtubules in migrating corneal epithelial cells. An immunofluorescence study.

Microtubules constitute one of the three components of the cellular skeleton (cytoskeleton) and have been implicated in the control of cell polarity, shape, intracellular transport, directional cell motility, and mitosis. With specific antibodies against tubulin, the principal microtubular protein, the cytoplasmic distribution of microtubules was demonstrated in tissue-cultured rat corneal epithelium. This was compared with the distribution of actin, another component of the cytoskeleton. Microtubules are essential for the late phase of corneal epithelial wound healing, characterized mainly by cell mitosis. As yet, little is known about their function in the nonmitotic early phase of healing, but possibilities include the maintenance of cell shape and intracellular transport.