BASAL LAMINA

Extra-cellular material separating

epithelial cells from connective
tissue
Visible w/ EM, 20-100 nm
Lamina densa
Lamina rara or Lamina lucida

BASAL LAMINA
BASAL LAMINA
Found not only in epithelial tissues
but also where other cells come in
contact w/ connective tissue:
Muscle
Adipose
Schwann cells of nervous tissue
MAIN COMPONENTS:
Type IV collagen
Proteoglycans [ perlecan ]
Glycoproteins:
Laminin
Entactin

PROTEOGLYCAN
GLYCOPROTEIN
BASAL LAMINA
Attached to underlying tissue by
anchoring fibrils from by Type VII
collagen
Components are secreted by:
Epithelial cells
Muscle cells
Adipose cells
Schwann cells
RETICULAR LAMINA
Reticular fibers closely associated w/
basal lamina
Reticular lamina
Connective tissue cells produce reticular
fibers
Fibroblast
Mesenchymal cell
Adipocyte
FUNCTIONS of Basal Lamina:
Support for cells
Barrier limiting/regulating exchange of
macromolecules between connective
tissue and cells of other tissues
Influence of Cell Polarity
Regulation of Cell Proliferation &
differentiation

FUNCTIONS of Basal Lamina:
Influence of Cell Metabolism
Provision of pathway for Cell Migration
Information necessary for Cell-to-Cell
Interactions
Reinnervation of deinverated cells
Establishment of new neuromuscular
junction
BASEMENT MEMBRANE:
Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive layer
Visible with LM
Found beneath some epithelia
Formed by association of:
2 basal laminae
A basal & reticular lamina
BASEMENT MEMBRANE
CELL POLARITY:
Differential and stable
organization of cell
components
Different parts of the cell may
have different functions
CELL POLARITY:
Basolateral portion:
Diffusion of nutrients & precursors
from lamina propria
Location for receptors of chemical
messengers
Hormones
Neurotransmitters

CELL POLARITY:
Apical portion:
Enzymes, as integral membrane
proteins
Disaccharidase
Peptidase
Prevention of integral membrane
protein transfer by Tight junctions
CELL RENEWAL:
Epithelial tissues are:
Labile [adaptability to modification]
Renewed continuously through mitosis
Every week with intestinal epithelia
Slow, as in liver and pancreas
Mitosis takes place in stem cells of
germinal layer
METAPLASIA:

Reversible transformation of one type
of epithelium to another
Heavy cigarette smokers:
PSEUDO-STRATIFIED EPITHELIUM
(lining of Bronchi)
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIA
METAPLASIA:

Chronic Vitamin A defiency:
TRANSITIONAL EPITHELIA
(Urinary bladder)
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIA

Also occurs in connective tissue