Electron Microscopic Examination of Corynebacterium ovis

Corynebacterium ovis (C. pseudotuberculosis) was examined by electron microscopy after being subjected to various methods of fixation. The organism exhibited a fine structure similar to other corynebacterial species in the appearance of its cell wall, plasma membrane, nuclear apparatus, cytoplasmic matrix, wealth and complexity of intracytoplasmic membrane systems, and polyphosphate granules. An outstanding structural feature was the existence of an electron-dense, floccular layer external to the cell wall which both ligroin and acetone-methanol extractions demonstrated to be the previously postulated surface lipid of this organism. The only variations in structure evident between virulent and attenuated strains was a quantitative difference in the thickness and appearance of the surface lipid. The observation of this layer provided a basis for explaining the surface properties of C. ovis, with particular respect to its clumping capacity in suspension, the waxiness of its growth on solid media, and its ability to grow as a pellicle on suitable liquid media. The variation in the visible amount of surface lipid between the virulent and avirulent strains adequately explained the divergence of these three surface properties between the strains.     

Chorda tympani proper nerve responses to intra-arterial and surface stimulation of the tongue in rhesus monkey and rat

The effect of intra-arterial injection of the proteins monellin,thaumatin and miraculin on the activity of the chorda tympaniproper nerve were recorded in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatto)and the rat (Sprague–Dawley). The substances were injectedinto the blood stream to the lingual artery. It was found thatmonellin and thaumatin elicited a response only in the monkeyand not in the rat. Acetylated thaumatin, a tasteless substance,gave no increase of the nerve activity. Miraculin had no effectin either species. NaCl, sucrose and citric acid injected intra-arteriallygave a response in both species. It is concluded that the responsesto intra-arterial injections were caused by stimulation of thetaste buds and not nerve fibers. The results suggest there aretaste receptors also on the parts of the taste cells not facingthe oral cavity. The finding that there was no cross-adaptationbetween intra-arterial and oral application supports this conclusion.