Figure 1. Subcellular distribution of vimentin and desmin in freshly-dissociated smooth muscle cells.

Smooth muscle cells were freshly dissociated from canine tracheal smooth muscle tissues. These cells were then immunofluorescently labeled for vimentin (A) or for desmin (B). Vimentin is distributed throughout the myoplasm, whereas desmin is more concentrated at the membrane. The nucleus appeared as a dark area. Bar, 5 μm. C, immunoblots of muscle extracts were obtained with antibodies against vimentin or desmin.