Figure 1.
Compliance of the lateral intercellular space. a, Pseudo-colour x–y slices from identical mid-cell layers obtained by two-photon microscopy before and during application of 20 cm H2O transcellular pressure. b, A typical pseudo-colour three-dimensional reconstruction of bronchial epithelial cells negatively stained with cell-impermeant fluorescein–dextran. Red corresponds to dextran, whereas cooler colours (blue–green) correspond to the absence of dextran. The intensity of dextran staining is plotted along the z axis. The red contour indicates the profile of dextran staining under control conditions, whereas the green profile was obtained in the same tissue 30 min after the onset of a continuous 20 cm H2O transcellular pressure. Note the decrease in cell layer height and loss of LIS volume.