Image Of The Week - 09/15/2006



This is a picture of the inside of a group of cells found in the lung. The picture was obtain by tagging the actin filaments with a fluorescence marker that shows up in green color when viewed with a fluorescent microscope. In addition, the nucleus of each cell has been stained with a marker that shows up in blue color. Actin filaments provide the cell its structural integrity much like beams and columns provide a building with its structural integrity. Although the outlines of individual cells do not appear on this slide, it is evident that the actin filaments are connecting neighboring cells together. Physiologist call this a "tight actin network" and when a group of cells contain this interconnect network, they form a barrier. In the case of these lung cells, this barrier is what prevents blood fluid from entering the airspaces within the lung.

Image provided by: Cagatay Yalcin and Samir Ghadiali (sag3@Lehigh.EDU)

Copyright © 2006 Cagatay Yalcin, Samir Ghadiali, and Lehigh University. This image and information may not be reproduced without the prior consent of this website administrator or the image author.