ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDY OF MIGRATING KE RATINOCYTE COLONIES

Structural investigation of human migrating keratinocyte colonies in c ulture demonstrated cell heterogeneity in colony regions. The leading edge of the colony is surrounded by several layers of highly different iated cells. The basal cells in the middle and front regions interplay with the help of long processes and form lamellipodia along the direc tion of the colony migration. Formation of the lamellipodia may be the driving force of migration. The suprabasal highly differentiated cell s are elongated and flattened and form numerous desmosomes. Preserved cell contacts provide for movement of the colony as a united epitheliu m layer. Studies of migration of epidermal keratinocyte colonies bring light to understanding cell mechanisms of wound epithelization and mo rphogenetic processes.