Figure 5.

Maturation of cell–cell contacts in N87 cells as a function of time. Visualization of desmosomes by anti-desmoglein staining (A, B, and C) and of adherens junctions by anti-pan cadherin staining (D, E, and F) in the cell colonies 24 h (A and D) and 96 h (B and E) after plating. Note that after 24 h plating cells have dispersed single desmosomes and diffuse distribution of cadherin, whereas more prolonged cultivation resulted in condensation of both markers in the cell–cell junction areas (B and E). These mature cell colonies are converted into rings on an additional 48 h treatment with 100 ng/ml NDF (C, F). Bar, 30 μm.