Ultrastructure of the larval corpus allatum of Hyphantria cunea drury (Insecta,Lepidoptera)

Summary The corpora allata of the three last larval instars were studied in newly molted animals, at the beginning, middle, and end of the feeding period, and during the molt period. They were found to consist of uniform gland cells, whose ultrastructure changes in the course of the instars.In gland cells considered to be resting, the outer and inner nuclear membranes run in parallel without forming a dilated perinuclear space. Mitochondria are small, polymorphic, with an electron-dense matrix. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) appears as stacks of parallel cisternae near the nuclear envelope and in the rest of the cytoplasm, and as accumulations of twisted profiles. Occasionally, the SER takes the form of paracrystalline bodies. There are few small smooth-surfaced vesicles in the cytoplasm.In cells considered as active, a dilated perinuclear space occurs. The peripheral ends of profiles forming the SER are swollen, and numerous vesicles and vacuoles bud off from them to fill the cytoplasm. Mitochondria are large, with a more transparent matrix. The plasma membrane of gland cells located just beneath the connective tissue sheath forms numerous small invaginations.The corpora allata consist of resting cells during the molt periods. At the beginning of each instar, few active gland cells appear. In the middle of the second to last and the third to last instars, the bulk of the gland cells is active. At the end of these instars, there are both active and inactive cells. In the middle of the last instar, the gland cells are inactive or subactive, and at its end, all gland cells are completely inactive.     

Ribosome-like granules within areas of the perinuclear space in cells of 13–14 somite chick embryos

Summary Studies of the ultrastructure of somite cells from 13–14 somite chick embryos have indicated the presence of ribosome-like granules in polysome-like configurations in the perinuclear space within nuclear blebs. The average size of the nuclear blebs is approximately 0.3 by 0.24 microns. Some of the the blebs are contiguous with elements of the endoplasmic reticulum. The lumen of other blebs is continuous with the lumen of tubules of endoplasmic reticulum. The possible significance of these structures is discussed.I wish to thank Mrs. Marjorie K. Grifftih for her technical assistance. The work was supported by the budget of the Department of Anatomy, Ohio State University.     

Alteration in ultrastructural morphology of bovine embryos following subzonal microinjection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the development and ultrastructure of preimplantation bovine embryos that were exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in vitro.The embryos were recovered from superovulated and fertilized Holstein-Friesian donor cows on day 6 of the estrous cycle. Compact morulae were microinjected with 20 pl of BVDV suspension (10(5.16) TCID(50)/ml viral stock diluted 1:4) under the zona pellucida (ZP), then washed in SOF medium and cultured for 24-48 h. Embryos were evaluated for developmental stages and then processed immunocytochemically for the presence of viral particles, using fluorescent anti-BVDV-FITC conjugate. Ultrastructure of cellular organelles was analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).After microinjection of BVDV under the ZP, significantly more (p<0.001) embryos (83.33%) were arrested at the morula stage compared with the intact control (30.33%). Immunocytochemical analysis localized the BVDV-FITC signal inside the microinjected embryos. TEM revealed: (i) the presence of virus-like particles in the dilated endoplasmic reticulum and in cytoplasmic vacuoles of the trophoblast and embryoblast cells; (ii) the loss of microarchitecture: and (iii) abnormal disintegrated nuclei, which lacked reticular structure and the heterochromatin area. In all, the embryo nuclear structure was altered and the microarchitecture of the nucleolus had disappeared when compared with the nuclei from control embryos. Dilatation of the intercellular space and the loss of the intercellular gap junctions were often observed in bovine BVDV-exposed embryos.These findings provide evidence for the adverse effect of BVDV virus on the development of bovine embryos, which is related to irreversible changes in the ultrastructure of cell organelles.     

Nucleocytoplasmic Interaction During Maturation of the Egg of the Fern Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J. Smith

The maturing egg of Histiopteris incisa has many features incommon with that of Pteridium, with which the species may berelated. The nuclear evaginations are however conspicuous inrespect of the extensive development of internal membrane systems,involving dilatation of the perinuclear space. In some in stancesthe inner membrane of the nuclear envelope, the proliferationof which gives rise to the dilatations, was strikingly tenuous,possibly indicating an extensive interchange between the perinuclearspace and that part of the nucleoplasm sequestered in the evaginations.The evaginations frequently contain an aggregate of electron-opaquematerial resembling structurally and in staining propertiessimilar aggregates in Pteridium, but in contrast to Pteridiumthere was no evidence that these aggregates were organized inor near the nucleolus. Histiopteris inciso (Thunb.)J. Smith, Pteridophyta, egg maturation, nucleocytoplasmic interaction, ultrastructure     

Electron tomography of nascent herpes simplex virus virions

Cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were conventionally embedded or freeze substituted after high-pressure freezing and stained with uranyl acetate. Electron tomograms of capsids attached to or undergoing envelopment at the inner nuclear membrane (INM), capsids within cytoplasmic vesicles near the nuclear membrane, and extracellular virions revealed the following phenomena. (i) Nucleocapsids undergoing envelopment at the INM, or B capsids abutting the INM, were connected to thickened patches of the INM by fibers 8 to 19 nm in length and < or =5 nm in width. The fibers contacted both fivefold symmetrical vertices (pentons) and sixfold symmetrical faces (hexons) of the nucleocapsid, although relative to the respective frequencies of these subunits in the capsid, fibers engaged pentons more frequently than hexons. (ii) Fibers of similar dimensions bridged the virion envelope and surface of the nucleocapsid in perinuclear virions. (iii) The tegument of perinuclear virions was considerably less dense than that of extracellular virions; connecting fibers were observed in the former case but not in the latter. (iv) The prominent external spikes emanating from the envelope of extracellular virions were absent from perinuclear virions. (v) The virion envelope of perinuclear virions appeared denser and thicker than that of extracellular virions. (vi) Vesicles near, but apparently distinct from, the nuclear membrane in single sections were derived from extensions of the perinuclear space as seen in the electron tomograms. These observations suggest very different mechanisms of tegumentation and envelopment in extracellular compared with perinuclear virions and are consistent with application of the final tegument to unenveloped nucleocapsids in a compartment(s) distinct from the perinuclear space.     

Intracisternal granules in the somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary of the mouse

A detailed study of the anterior pituitaries of pregnant and lactating mice revealed changes occurring in the ultrastructure of the somatotrophs. The rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae become greatly dilated forming channels that are continuous with the perivascular space. This occurrence expands the membrane surface available for the release of hormone. Individual granules and cytoplasmic islands containing numerous granules appear in these channels. This suggests an alternative mechanism for granule release which would facilitate a rapid response to increased hormone requirement.     

Structure of the nuclear pore complex in mammalian cells. Two annular components

The ultrastructure of the nuclear pore complex has been investigated in isolated nuclei of an in vitro cultured bovine liver cell line. In shadow-cast replicas of the surface of nuclei isolated in Tris buffer containing low K⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations (RSB) the rims of the pores appeared as annular projections with an outer diameter of 100 to 120 nm. When the nuclei were isolated in Tris buffer containing 0.1% Triton the projections were essentially lost, together with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. In electron micrographs of whole-mount preparations the Triton-Tris nuclei—but not the RSB nuclei—were surrounded by numerous circular structures, which obviously had been detached from the nuclear surface during the preparation. They consisted of eight granules of about 20 nm diameter which were connected in a circular fashion by fibrous material. The circular structures had an inside diameter close to 65 nm. In broken nuclei many of these circular structures contained a second, smaller circular component and a central granule. From these observations it is concluded that the annulus of the nuclear pore consists of two components and that the outer component is located in the perinuclear space in intimate association with the membrane limiting the pore. A modified model of the nuclear pore complex which accounts for this location is proposed.     

细角螺卵子发生的细胞学和超微结构的研究

利用组织切片和透射电镜观察细角螺卵细胞发育的显微和超微结构,结果表明:细角螺卵原细胞期细胞核体积较大,呈椭圆形,核膜明显且有不规则的凹陷,细胞质内出现大量的线粒体和高尔基体.根据卵黄颗粒物的多少和大小可将卵母细胞分为前、中、后三个时期:前期卵母细胞细胞核内染色质浓缩,核仁可见,并出现核周间隙;中期卵母细胞内细胞核移向细胞的一端,核内染色质仍呈高电子密度状态,核仁不明显或消失;后期卵母细胞内的细胞核受挤压形状变得不规则,细胞质内可见少量的线粒体,大量的卵黄颗粒聚集在细胞质中并融合成很大的卵黄球.成熟期卵母细胞卵黄物质多且有较大的脂滴.     

The ACTH-interrenal axis in the freshwater stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus form leiurus

Summary The ACTH-interrenal axis of the freshwater stickleback has been examined with the fish in a variety of physiological conditions. A morphometric analysis of ACTH cell ultrastructure in spring animals revealed that the only change from the winter condition was a significant decrease in the amount of perinuclear RER. The interrenal gland responded to metopirone treatment by an increase in both nuclear and cell size, although only a high dose of metopirone could degranulate the ACTH cells. Morphometry of the ACTH cells from metopirone-treated animals showed a significant increase in the amount of RER and a significant decrease in the number of free ribosomes and secretory granules, compared with control animals maintained in freshwater. Such ultrastructural changes may be expected of a cell that is stimulated to increase its secretion of polypeptide hormone. The ACTH-interrenal axis also responded to 70% seawater, as this treatment increased the interrenal cell and nuclear sizes.     

Synthesis, transport and incorporation into the nuclear envelope of A-type lamins and inner nuclear membrane proteins

The mammalian NE (nuclear envelope), which separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm, is a complex structure composed of nuclear pore complexes, the outer and inner nuclear membranes, the perinuclear space and the nuclear lamina (A- and B-type lamins). The NE is completely disassembled and reassembled at each cell division. In the present paper, we review recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms implicated in the transport of inner nuclear membrane and nuclear lamina proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus in interphase cells and mitosis, with special attention to A-type lamins.     

Formation of the perinuclear theca in spermatozoa of diverse mammalian species: relationship of the manchette and multiple band polypeptides

The perinuclear theca is a novel cytoskeletal consisting of a densely layered lamina that surrounds the nucleus of mammalian sperm. Using antibodies specific for the multiple band polypeptides present in the perinuclear theca of bull sperm, we show that a heterogeneous group of immunological related proteins are present in the sperm heads of other mammals with greatly different morphologies, including guinea pig, hamster, rat, and mouse. In none of the species were identical groups of immunoreactive polypeptides found, although immunoreactive proteins of molecular weights 65,000 to 80,000 were present in the sperm heads of all species examined. Immunoreactive proteins less than Mr 55,000 were prominent in rat sperm heads and mouse sperm: guinea pig, hamster, and rat sperm heads and mouse sperm had one band in common at approximately Mr 50,000. Different immunoreactive proteins were present in isolated sperm tails. The perinuclear theca first appeared in the subacrosomal space of round to elongating spermatids. Later, with the caudal movement of the manchette, the postacrosomal segment of the perinuclear theca was deposited in a cephalad to caudal direction along the sperm nucleus. Concomitantly, the cytoplasmic space between the nuclear envelope and the plasma membrane narrowed such that only the theca occupied this portion of the sperm head. Immunoreactivity accompanied the ultrastructural appearance of the subacrosomal layer and the postacrosomal segment. The periods of spermiogenesis, in which sub- and post-acrosomal components of the perinuclear theca are formed and the morphogenesis of sperm organelles with which these elements are associated, suggest that components of this cytoskeletal structure function to join the acrosome and the postacrosomal plasma membrane to the nucleus.     

Mitosis in the free-living flagellate Bodo saltans strain PS+ (Kinetoplastidea, Bodonida)

The mitosis in the free-living flagellate Bodo saltans Ps+ with prokaryotic cytobionts in perinuclear space has been studied. The nuclear division in B. saltans Ps+ occurs by closed mitosis type without condensation of chromosomes. Two spatially separated mitotic spindles begin to form consistently at the initial stages of nuclear division. The spindle including about 20 microtubules appears first and later the second spindle with half the number of microtubules comes at the angle of 30-40 degrees. Both spindles rest their ends against the inner nuclear membrane and form 4 distinct poles. The microtubules of the first spindle are associated with 4 pairs of kinetochores, the microtubules of the second one are associated with 2 pairs of kinetochores. The divergence of the kinetochores towards the poles occurs independently in each spindle. The equatorial phase is not revealed in B. saltans Ps+. The poles of both spindles unite in pairs at the elongation phase of mitosis and form the integrated bipolar structure. At this stage of the nuclear division, the kinetochores reach the poles of subspindles and become indistinguishable. Then the nucleus takes the shape of a dumbbell. The inner nuclear membranes of just formed nuclei have layers of condensed chromatin characteristic of the interphase nuclei of kinetoplastidea. The daughter nuclei separate at the phase of reorganization. There are 1-2 prokaryotic endocytobionts in the perinuclear space of the interphase nuclei in B. saltans Ps+. The symbionts multiply during mitosis and their number reaches more than 20 specimens par nucleus.     

Ultracytochemical detection of nucleoside phosphatase activity in human peripheral blood cells

The authors elaborated and described the optimum conditions for fixation, incubation and preparation of human blood cell samples in minimum quantities for ultrastructural and ultracytochemical investigations of 5'-nucleotidase and ATPase activities. The best preservation of the blood cell ultrastructure was obtained after fixation with buffered 1% glutaraldehyde solution followed by postfixation in buffered 1% OsO4 solution. The best ultracytochemical demonstration of 5'-nucleotidase and ATPase activities was achieved after fixation in buffered 2% formaldehyde prior to cytochemical incubation. DMSO added to either fixation or incubation media was shown to damage the plasmalemma and glycocalyx structure in cell suspensions. ATPase in 5'-nucleotidase activities were revealed in plasmalemma, cytoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, mitochondria and in the nuclei, in particular, in the perinuclear space, nucleolus and chromatin. With respect to the localization and activity of nucleosidephosphatases, lymphocytes proved to be most heterogenic, with the enzyme activity level directly depending on the rate of ultrastructural differentiation in lymphocytes.     

THE NUCLEAR ENVELOPE : ITS STRUCTURE AND RELATION TO CYTOPLASMIC MEMBRANES

An electron microscope study of thin sections of interphase cells has revealed the following:— Circular pores are formed in the double nuclear envelope by continuities between the inner and outer membranes which permit contact between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm unmediated by a well defined membrane. The pores, seen in sections normal to the nuclear envelope, are profiles of the ring-shaped structures described by others and seen in tangential section. The inner and outer nuclear membranes are continuous with one another and enclose the perinuclear space. The pores contain a diffuse, faintly particulate material. A survey of cells of the rat derived from the embryonic ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, and of a protozoan and an alga has revealed pores in all tissues examined, without exception. It is concluded that pores in the nuclear envelope are a fundamental feature of all resting cells. In certain cells, the outer nuclear membrane is continuous with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, hence the perinuclear space is continuous with cavities enclosed by those membranes. There are indications that this is true for all resting cells, at least in a transitory way. On the basis of these observations, the hypothesis is made that two pathways of exchange exist between the nucleus and the cytoplasm; by way of the perinuclear space and cavities of the endoplasmic reticulum and by way of the pores in the nuclear envelope.     

The effect of nuclear dyes on the frequency of aberrations in mucosal cells of humans

The effect of staining with commonly used nuclear dyes (orsein, light green, methylene blue, azure-eosin by Romanovsky-Giemsa) on the frequency of occurrence of nuclear disorders (micronuclei, perinuclear vacuoles, notches, protrusions, such as "tongue" and "broken egg") in human buccal mucosa was determined. It is shown that Romanovsky-Giemsa dye is the best type of dye both in the quality of the micropreparations and the spectrum of detected abnormalities.     

The nuclear envelope; its structure and relation to cytoplasmic membranes

An electron microscope study of thin sections of interphase cells has revealed the following:- Circular pores are formed in the double nuclear envelope by continuities between the inner and outer membranes which permit contact between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm unmediated by a well defined membrane. The pores, seen in sections normal to the nuclear envelope, are profiles of the ring-shaped structures described by others and seen in tangential section. The inner and outer nuclear membranes are continuous with one another and enclose the perinuclear space. The pores contain a diffuse, faintly particulate material. A survey of cells of the rat derived from the embryonic ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, and of a protozoan and an alga has revealed pores in all tissues examined, without exception. It is concluded that pores in the nuclear envelope are a fundamental feature of all resting cells. In certain cells, the outer nuclear membrane is continuous with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, hence the perinuclear space is continuous with cavities enclosed by those membranes. There are indications that this is true for all resting cells, at least in a transitory way. On the basis of these observations, the hypothesis is made that two pathways of exchange exist between the nucleus and the cytoplasm; by way of the perinuclear space and cavities of the endoplasmic reticulum and by way of the pores in the nuclear envelope.     

The ultrastructure of formed white blood elements (neutrophils) in schizophrenia.

A comparative electronmicroscopic study of neutrophils in schizophrenic patients and in healthy control subjects has revealed a certain difference in the ultrastructure of blood cell formation. This difference concerns the coarse-grained chromatin, the osmiophility of nuclear membrane, the enlargement of perinuclear halo, the enlightenment of matrix, the enlargement of glycogen granules, the swelling of mitochondria, the change in the amount of free ribosomes, an increase in the number of azurophilic granules and a decrease in the specific ones.     

Differentiation and Ultrastructure of the Protophloem Sieve Elements of Minor Veins in the Maize Leaves: Changes in the Protoplast

Protophloem sieve element differentiation in the minor veins of the maize ( Zea mays L. ) leaves was first evidenced as an increase of the wall thickness, which began in the comers of the cell and then extended to other parts of the wall, and the appearance of long rough endoplasmic reticulum cistemae distributed throughout the cytoplasm, and then the presence of characteristic crystalloid inclusions within the plastids. As differentiation progressed, long cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared to transform into shorter forms and eventually aggregated into small stacks, losing their ribosomes during the process. The nuclei degenerated, although frequently persisted until very late in differentiation the stages of maturation, as darkly stained amorphous aggregates surrounded by double nuclear envelope or only inner membrane of nuclear envelope. Subsequently, the nuclear envelope collapsed and became discontinuous. At the beginning of nuclear degeneration the perinuclear spaces were partly dilated and sometimes the outer nuclear envelope in the dilated portions then ruptured, and was accompanied by the disappearance of the cytoplasmic portion near it. During the peried of nuclear degeneration, in addition to the endoplasmic reticulum, plastids and mitochondria underwent structural modification, while components such as ribosomes, cytoplasmic ground substances, vacuoles and dictyosomes disintegrated and disappeared. At maturity, the surviving protoplasmic components, including plasmalemma, mitochondria, small stacked smooth endoplasmic reticulum and P-type plastids with crystalloids, became parietal in position. As differentiation of adjacent metaphloem sieve elements proceeded, the protoplasmic components of the mature protophloem sieve elements progresively degenerated and finally obliterated.     

The perinuclear region concentrates disordered proteins with predicted phase separation distributed in a 3D network of cytoskeletal filaments and organelles

Membraneless organelles have emerged during the evolution of eukaryotic cells as intracellular domains in which multiple proteins organize into complex structures to perform specialized functions without the need of a lipid bilayer compartment. Here we describe the perinuclear space of eukaryotic cells as a highly organized network of cytoskeletal filaments that facilitates assembly of biomolecular condensates. Using bioinformatic analyses, we show that the perinuclear proteome is enriched in intrinsic disorder with several proteins predicted to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation. We also analyze immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy images showing the association between the nucleus and other organelles, such as mitochondria and lysosomes, or the labeling of specific proteins within the perinuclear region of cells. Altogether our data support the existence of a perinuclear dense sub-micron region formed by a well-organized three-dimensional network of structural and signaling proteins, including several proteins containing intrinsically disordered regions with phase behavior. This network of filamentous cytoskeletal proteins extends a few micrometers from the nucleus, contributes to local crowding, and organizes the movement of molecular complexes within the perinuclear space. Our findings take a key step towards understanding how membraneless regions within eukaryotic cells can serve as hubs for biomolecular condensates assembly, in particular the perinuclear space. Finally, evaluation of the disease context of the perinuclear proteins revealed that alterations in their expression can lead to several pathological conditions, and neurological disorders and cancer are among the most frequent.