Immunohistochemical observation of actin filaments in epithelial cells encircling the taste pore cavity of rat fungiform papillae

Epithelial cells are connected to each other around taste pores in rat fung iform papillae. Cytoskeletal components are responsible for the maintenance of intracellular adhesion, and we investigated the identification and loca lization of actin filaments around taste pores. On the basis of observation s made by immunohistochemical transmission electron microscopy comparing wi th confocal laser scanning microscopy using actin-lectin double staining, a ctin filaments were found to be localized, encircling the squeezed taste po re cavity, in epithelial cells a few micrometers below the papilla surface. In addition, these observations suggest that the organization of actin fil aments around taste pores might be involved in the constriction of taste po res.