Intercellular junctions between fibroblasts in connective tissues of the eye of macaque monkeys. A thin section and freeze fracture analysis.

Thin-section electron microscopy and freeze fracture were used in the analysis of the intercellular junctions between fibroblasts in connective tissues of the eye of Macaca mulatta, M. fascicularis, and M. arctoides. Fibroblasts located in the subconjunctival loose connective tissue, anterior sclera, scleral spur, iris stroma, ciliary body stroma, and posterior choroid were jointed by three kinds of junctions. Gap junctions were of different sizes and frequently composed of a small number of connexons organized in polygonal aggregates or linear arrays. Tight junctions were represented by isolated strands and never composed a continuous belt around the cells. Intermediate junctions were seen in thin sections but did not have any representation in the interior of the plasma membrane. It remains to be established whether, as is the case in other tissues, pathologic conditions of the eye are accompanied by some changes in the morphology and distribution of intercellular junctions between fibroblasts.