Mucosal junction

At the junction of the esophagus and stomach, the mucosa undergoes a transition from the protective stratified squamous epithehum to a tightly packed glandular secretory mucosa that contains columnar cells. The muscularis mucosa, the imderlying submucosa, and the muscularis propria remain continuous between the mucosal junction. 

There are regional asymmetries in membranes. Some, such as occur at the villous borders of mucosal cells, are almost macroscopicaUy visible. Others, such as those at gap junctions, tight junctions, and synapses, occupy much smaller regions of the membrane and generate correspondingly smaller local asymmetries. 

The in vitro system we have been using to study the transepithelial transport is cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells (11). When cultured on microporous polycarbonate filters (Transwell, Costar, Cambridge, MA), MDCK cells will develop into monolayers mimicking the mucosal epithelium (11). When these cells reach confluence, tight junctions will be established between the cells, and free diffusion of solutes across the cell monolayer will be markedly inhibited. Tight junction formation can be monitored by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) across the cell monolayers. In Figure 1, MDCK cells were seeded at 2 X 104 cells per well in Transwells (0.4 p pore size) as described previously. TEER and 14C-sucrose transport were measured daily. To determine 14C-sucrose... 

Figure 2 (Left) Microscopic magnification (X46,500) of mucosal surface (S) associated with intestinal microvilli (V). (Right) Schematic of the microvilli illustrating the cytoskele-ton elements including junctional complexes. (From Ref. 76.)... 

Cultured nasal cells are reliable models for drug transport and metabolism studies, since they are known to express important biological features (e.g. tight junctions, mucin secretion, cilia, and various transporters), resembling those found in vivo systems. Moreover, easy control of experimental conditions as well as separation of the permeation step from the subsequent absorption cascade is also possible. A relatively simple primary culture condition using human nasal epithelial cells for in vitro drug transport studies has been established and applied in transport and metabolism studies of drugs. It is known that the culture condition and/or selection of culture media are critical in the recapitulation of well-differentiation features of in vivo nasal mucosal epithelium [46],... 

Pesticides derived from natural sources include nicotine, rotenone, and pyrethrum. Nicotine is obtained from the dried leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and N rustica. It is rapidly absorbed from mucosal surfaces the free alkaloid, but not the salt, is readily absorbed from the skin. Nicotine reacts with the acetylcholine receptor of the postsynaptic membrane (sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, neuromuscular junction), resulting in depolarization of the membrane. Toxic doses cause stimulation rapidly followed by blockade of transmission. These actions are described in Chapter 7. Treatment is directed toward maintenance of vital signs and suppression of convulsions. 

Fig. 6. Ion-Concentrating Systems. The microvilli at calciferous mucosal gland cells of the earthworm resorb ions from the lumen which are moved into the intercellular spaces behind the junctional complex (Jc) followed by an isotonic secretion into the blood.

Initial attempts at selecting PEs have identified certain surfactants, such as bile salts and fatty acids, which appear to facilitate oligonucleotide absorption. The advantages of these components are many, in that they are endogenous to foods and body constituents, plus the literature is rich with information about the use and exposure of these two classes of compounds [56]. The precise mechanism of action for these PEs is unknown, but is believed to involve a disruption of the mucus layer barrier, an increase in the fluidity of the mucosal membrane, and potentially an opening of the paracellular tight junctions. The mucolytic effect coupled with the increased membrane fluidity imparted by these excipients appears to allow in-... 

Epithelial cells are interconnected at the apical (mucosal) side by a complex network of proteins, called the tight junctions (TJ). First thought to have merely a static role in restricting access of compounds present in the luminal fluid to the underlying subepithelial tissue and systemic circulation by the paracellular pathway, TJ are known today to be dynamic structures involved in cellular differentiation, cell signaling (Harder and Margolis 2008), polarized vesicle trafficking, and protein synthesis. 

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