K. Badelt et al., ULTRASTRUCTURAL SPECIALIZATIONS OF THE CELL-WALL SLEEVE AROUND PLASMODESMATA, American journal of botany, 81(11), 1994, pp. 1422-1427
Specialized structures were observed in the sleeve of wall surrounding
plasmodesmata in the rhizome tips of Nephrolepis exaltata and root ti
ps of Spirodela oligorrhiza, Azolla pinnata, and Hordeum vulgare. Mate
rial was prepared either by fixation in glutaraldehyde/paraformaldehyd
e/tannic acid followed by cell wall digestion, or by rapid freezing an
d freeze substitution, prior to resin embedding. Two structures were i
dentified: rings of electron-opaque material encircling the neck regio
n of plasmodesmata and electron-opaque helices spiraling around the le
ngth of plasmodesmata. In some instances, particle-like subunits were
observed in the electron-opaque rings. The possible role of these stru
ctures as external sphincters involved in the control of permeability
of plasmodesmata is discussed.