Crohn’s disease of the colon: ultrastructural changes in submuscular interstitial cells of Cajal

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) at the submuscular border of the human colon (ICC-SMP) are the proposed pacemaker cells of the musculature. In patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) of the colon, ICC-SMP showed characteristic cytological changes from controls. The changes comprised secondary lysosomes in connection with lipid droplets and cytoplasmic vacuoles or multiple empty, confluent and often outbulging vacuoles merging with cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum and clusters of glycogen granules. These changes were most pronounced in patients with macroscopical mucosal inflammation but were also demonstrable in uninvolved colonic segments. Relationships of ICC to other cells were undisturbed. The changes were selective to ICC-SMP, as glial cells, muscle cells and fibroblast-like cells at the submuscular border showed no cytological alterations compared with controls. Varicosities of the submuscular plexus were often empty and dilated. Fibroblast-like cells selectively encased macrophages and mast cells. The cytological changes in ICC-SMP in CD are thus similar to changes seen in ulcerative colitis and may be of pathophysiological significance with regard to the motility and sensory disturbances seen in patients with CD.     

Effects of temperature and cellular interactions on the mechanics and morphology of human cancer cells investigated by atomic force microscopy

Cell mechanics plays an important role in cellular physiological activities. Recent studies have shown that cellular mechanical properties are novel biomarkers for indicating the cell states. In this article, temperature-controllable atomic force microscopy(AFM) was applied to quantitatively investigate the effects of temperature and cellular interactions on the mechanics and morphology of human cancer cells. First, AFM indenting experiments were performed on six types of human cells to investigate the changes of cellular Young's modulus at different temperatures and the results showed that the mechanical responses to the changes of temperature were variable for different types of cancer cells. Second, AFM imaging experiments were performed to observe the morphological changes in living cells at different temperatures and the results showed the significant changes of cell morphology caused by the alterations of temperature. Finally, by co-culturing human cancer cells with human immune cells, the mechanical and morphological changes in cancer cells were investigated. The results showed that the co-culture of cancer cells and immune cells could cause the distinct mechanical changes in cancer cells, but no significant morphological differences were observed. The experimental results improved our understanding of the effects of temperature and cellular interactions on the mechanics and morphology of cancer cells.     

Liver ultrastructural changes following portal circulation disturbances

Liver cell changes produced in rats by the ligature of the portal vein and of the spleen pedicle were studied by electron microscopy. There were differences in the liver response to the various types of circulatory disturbances. The earliest and most marked lesions of hepatic cells were noticed in the case of portal vein ligature, and occurred at the level of rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes. No significant changes in Kupffer cells. When the spleen pedicle was ligated, the hepatic cell changes were less obvious, but the Kupffer cells changes were more prominent, testifying and increased hetero- and autophagy.     

Behaviour of bovine spermatozoa in media of varying osmolality and tonicity

The response of bovine spermatozoa to media of different osmolalities and tonicities was studied by several methods. Packed cell volumes of cells in a dilute medium were greater than in a reference medium (similar to seminal plasma), and were less in a more concentrated medium, but the changes were not correlated quantitatively with the changed properties of the media. Specific effects on the configuration of the midpiece and tail were observed by phase-contrast microscopy. All these effects were elicited by changes in osmolality rather than tonicity. Electronic volume sensing and optical density measurements did not detect these changes in the cells. The morphological changes were not uniform in the cells of any one sample, some cells being unresponsive; in a small proportion of responsive cells the effects of raised osmolality appeared to be reversible.     

Ultrastructural changes in the histohematic barrier of the liver in the early period after endotoxin administration

Investigation of the changes of the mouse liver cells revealed early reaction of endothelial sinusoid cells and Kupffer cells after endotoxin application. During first 60 min. after endotoxin injection there were certain bulge of nuclear zone, changes of nuclear shape, appearance of microfilaments in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells. An increase in the number of the pores and fenestrae grouped in sieve plates was discovered in the endothelial cells. Their luminal surface formed the bubbles. Such changes of the endothelial cells can be described as their activation. Reaction of the endothelial cells of hepatic sinusoids and activation of the Kupffer cells were revealed at the same time.     

Rapid pH changes associated with synaptic transmission in isolated slices of the mammalian hippocampus

To perform rapid optical detection of possible pH changes accompanying electrical activity hippocampal slices were stained with pH indicator--phenol red (0.2 mM). Electrical response of granular and pyramidal cells was evoked by stimulation of perforant path, Schaffer collateral and commissural afferents in the stratum radiatum. Biphasic pH changes occurred both in pyramidal and granular cells: rapid acid changes, with the maximum reached in several msec, were followed by alkaline changes lasting up to one sec. pH changes disappeared with the blocking of synaptic transmission by Mg2+ (10 mM) and were absent in antidromic stimulation of granular cells. pH changes are believed to be related to the processes accompanying synaptic transmission.     

粘虫核型多角体病毒和颗粒体病毒侵染粘虫前胸腺的病理观察

观察比较了粘虫核型多角体病毒(Pseudelatia separata NPV,PsNPV)、粘虫颗粒体病毒(Pseudelatia separata GV,PsGV)感染粘虫,以及两种病毒混合感染粘虫后,粘虫(Pseudelatia separata)前胸腺的形态特征和前胸腺细胞的超微结构。结果表明,不同感染组粘虫前胸腺腺体都有不同程度的组织病变,PsNPV感染组在感染晚期与前胸腺相连的气管严重病变,出现大量白色颗粒状物累积,被伊红染成紫黑色,腺体细胞被挤压变形;PsGV感染组的前胸腺腺体变小,单个细胞也小,细胞界限不十分明显;两种病毒混合感染组的腺体细胞小,能被伊红染色的细胞极少。同时,前胸腺细胞的超微结构也有不同程度的病变。     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN EMBRYONIC ECTODERMAL CELLS OF THE NEURULATING RAT EMBRYO

Embryonic ectodermal cells of rat embryos were examined by light and electron microscopy during the early stage of neurulation. Before the onset of neurulation (day 9–6 hr embryos), the cells underwent certain characteristic ultrastructural changes; that is, apical cytoplasmic protrusions and free spherules appeared, numerous vacuoles were formed in the cytoplasm, mitochondria showed ballooning, and the endoplasmic reticulum became dilated. The amniotic cells derived from the embryonic ectoderm exhibited the same ultrastructural changes, but those from the extraembryonic mesoderm did not. Embryonic mesodermal cells and neuroectodermal cells also did not show these changes. In the middle stage of neurulation (day 9–12 hr embryos), the embryonic ectodermal cells and the amniotic cells derived from the embryonic ectoderm assumed a flat squamous shape. None of the ultrastructural changes observed in day 9–6 hr embryos were noted in these cells. The functional significance of the production of apical cytoplasmic protrusions and free spherules in the embryonic ectodermal cells and amniotic cells is discussed in relation to similar phenomena reported to occur in other cell types.     

Induction of supermelanin synthesis and morphological changes in interspecific reconstituted cells and its reversal by tumor promoter

Chloramphenicol-resistant (CAPr) reconstituted cells and cybrids were isolated by fusion of karyoplasts (or intact cells) of mouse amelanotic melanoma B16 cells with cytoplasts of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) -deficient, CAPr rat myoblastic cells, L6TG.CAPr, and double selection in HAT medium containing CAP. Reconstituted cells or cybrids exhibited unique cellular arrangement, and about one third of the isolated clones expressed high tyrosinase activity and marked melanin synthesis, although the parental mouse cells expressed low tyrosinase activity and the parental rat cells did not express tyrosinase activity. These phenotypic changes have been stable for more than a year. The phenotypic reversions of these clonal cells were induced by treatment with a tumor promoter. There were changes in the morphology of the treated cells to that of the mouse B16 cells and extinction of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in pigmented clonal cells. These phenotypic changes and reversions induced by a promoter were repeatedly reversible.     

Ultrastructure of parietal cells in summer and in the period of hibernation

The parietal cells of active and hibernating citellus erythkogenus Br. were studied by electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. It was shown that there are clear-cut changes in the ultrastructure of parietal cells during hibernation, which reflect the absence of secretory activity of the cells. No pronounced dystrophic changes in morphology of the parietal cells were found. Structural differences due to the life stages of the cells were preserved.     

Smad3基因剔除的骨髓细胞移植对小鼠的影响

目的通过小鼠骨髓细胞剔除Smad3基因,观察小鼠病理变化以及免疫T细胞状态。方法将Smad3基因剔除Smad3-/-)的小鼠骨髓细胞和野生型(Smad3+/+)小鼠骨髓细胞分别移植给60Co射线照射GFP小鼠。观察骨髓移植后GFP小鼠体征变化,第6周处死小鼠,取肠道固定,HE染色观察其病理变化,流式细胞技术检测淋巴结中T细胞变化。结果移植Smad3-/-骨髓细胞的GFP小鼠逐渐消瘦,大肠出现炎症;淋巴结中活化型的CD4+CD62LloT细胞增多。结论骨髓细胞TGF-β信号受阻,可导致小鼠患炎症疾病,引起免疫T细胞活化。     

Histopathology of retained bovine fetal membranes

Placentomes were obtained from 20 cows with retained placenta (9 following normal birth, 5 after abortion and 6 with dystocia), and this material was examined by light microscopy. Histologic changes that were consistently seen in placentomes of cows with retained placenta after normal birth included vascular changes (edema, thrombosis and vasculitis) and the presence of numerous clumps of bacterialcolonies in the connective tissue of the caruncles and cotyledons. Only a few binucleate cells were seen in these cases. In placentomes obtained from cows with retained placenta after abortion, there were instances of focal necrosis of the fetal villi and the presence of variable numbers of binucleate cells. Vascular changes and numerous clumps of bacterial colonies in the caruncles and cotyledons were also noted. The changes in placentomes obtained from cows with retained placenta and dystocia included the presence of numerous binucleate cells, infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells in the connective tissue of both the fetal and maternal villi, vascular changes, and the presence of extensive necrosis and numerous clumps of bacterial colonies. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were encountered in the number of binucleate cells in the various groups. Binucleate cells appear to be involved in the process of placental separation in cows with retained placenta.     

Changes in surface area of intact guard cells are correlated with membrane internalization

Guard cells must maintain the integrity of the plasma membrane as they undergo large, rapid changes in volume. It has been assumed that changes in volume are accompanied by changes in surface area, but mechanisms for regulating plasma membrane surface area have not been identified in intact guard cells, and the extent to which surface area of the guard cells changes with volume has never been determined. The alternative hypothesis-that surface area remains approximately constant because of changes in shape-has not been investigated. To address these questions, we determined surface area for intact guard cells of Vicia faba as they underwent changes in volume in response to changes in the external osmotic potential. We also estimated membrane internalization for these cells. Epidermal peels were subjected to external solutions of varying osmotic potential to shrink and swell the guard cells. A membrane-specific fluorescent dye was used to identify the plasma membrane, and confocal microscopy was used to acquire a series of optical paradermal sections of the guard cell pair at each osmotic potential. Solid digital objects representing the guard cells were created from the membrane outlines identified in these paradermal sections, and surface area, volume, and various linear dimensions were determined for these solid objects. Surface area decreased by as much as 40% when external osmotic potential was increased from 0 to 1.5 MPa, and surface area varied linearly with volume. Membrane internalization was approximated by determining the amount of the fluorescence in the cell's interior. This value was shown to increase approximately linearly with decreases in the cell's surface area. The changes in surface area, volume, and membrane internalization were reversible when the guard cells were returned to a buffer solution with an osmotic potential of approximately zero. The data show that intact guard cells undergo changes in surface area that are too large to be accommodated by plasma membrane stretching and shrinkage and suggest that membrane is reversibly internalized to maintain cell integrity.     

Nongranulated cells in the mouse adenohypophysis

Summary Follicular cells in the mouse adenohypophysis were studied electron microscopically. These elements appear to be very similar to the marginal cells that delineate both sides of the hypophyseal cleft.The mouse differs from most other species in that the follicular cells in the pars distalis and the marginal cells look completely inactive in young, intact animals. This makes the mouse exceptionally favorable for correlating morphological changes in the cells of both types with changes in the physiological state of the animal. Different treatments applied in the present investigation all induced morphological reactions in the follicular and/or marginal cells; these reactions were generally similar. Thus, morphological changes in the follicular or marginal cells should be considered as general phenomena accompanying many changes in the physiological state of the animal, rather than as a specific result of the treatment applied.In three experiments, the follicular and marginal cells were involved in the digestion of waste material from other cells. It is suggested that the morphological changes in the other experiments should also be interpreted as signs of such an activity.In the pars tuberalis of the young, intact mouse the follicular cells may show characteristics that in the pars distalis are found only under experimental conditions. Therefore, the follicular cells in this part of the hypophysis are probably in an active state.     

A laser scanning confocal microscopy method. Simultaneous detection of intracellular Ca2+ and apoptosis using Fluo-3 and Hoechst 33342

OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple and direct method to simultaneously determine apoptotic cells from a treated population of cells and detect the changes of intracellular Ca2+ in these apoptotic cells, in particular single ones, by confocal microscopy. STUDY DESIGN: MGC-803 cells treated with As2O3 were used as the double-staining cell model with Hoechst 33342 as a DNA probe and Fluo-3AM as a Ca2+ indicator. MGC-803 cell apoptosis induced by As2O3 was first demonstrated by DNA ladder in gel electrophoresis. Based on the difference in DNA stainability with Hoechst 33342 and corresponding fluorescence intensity between live and apoptotic cells, apoptotic cells and the changes in intracellular Ca2+ were detected at the same time by confocal microscopy. No necrotic cells in the group treated with As2O3 were found by the trypan blue exclusion test. RESULTS: The results from confocal microscope detection showed that intact and apoptotic cells were successfully recognized and the changes of intracellular Ca2+ in apoptotic and intact cells were simultaneously detected in the same sample. CONCLUSION: We provided a useful method to exactly detect changes in intracellular Ca2+ in apoptotic cells, especially in single ones, by confocal microscopy and to exclude the artifact effect of necrotic and intact cells.     

Humidity Responses of Stomata and the Potassium Content of Guard Cells

Humidity responses of stomata and changes in the potassium contentof their guard cells were investigated in intact plants anddetached epidermal strips of Valerianella locusta (L.) Betcke.Potassium content was determined by Macallum‘s stain.It was found that changes in stomatal aperture caused by decreasingor increasing humidity were followed only after a delay by changesin the potassium content of the guard cells. By comparison,if stomatal movements occurred in response to changes in illuminationthe relative potassium content of the guard cells correlatedcontinuously with the changes in stomatal aperture. Since thepotassium content of the guard cells changed only after mostof the stomatal movements in response to changes in humiditywere completed changes in potassium content and humidity responsesof stomata can be described as following a hysteresis curve.     

Phorbol esters and gene expression: the role of rapid changes in K+ transport in the induction of ornithine decarboxylase by 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in BALB/c 3T3 cells and a mutant cell line defective in Na+K+Cl- cotransport

A BALB/c 3T3 preadipose cell line defective in Na+K+Cl- cotransport (3T3-E12a cells) has been used to study the relationship between phorbol ester-induced rapid changes in cation fluxes and changes in expression of a gene known to be modulated by this agent. In contrast to its effect on parental 3T3 cells, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) did not inhibit either furosemide-sensitive 86Rb+ influx or the rate of 86Rb+ efflux from preloaded mutant cells. TPA-induced changes in intracellular K+ content were diminished in 3T3-E12a cells as compared with parental cells. Thus, mutation of the Na+K+Cl- cotransport system renders overall potassium transport in mutant cells largely insensitive to modulation by TPA. The morphological and functional responses of 3T3 and 3T3-E12a cells to TPA were also compared. In contrast to the extensive and long-lasting changes in morphology of 3T3 cells after 0.16 microM TPA addition, only slight and shorter-lived morphological effects of TPA were observed in 3T3-E12a cells. The transport properties of mutant cells were not totally unresponsive to TPA since hexose transport (2-deoxyglucose uptake) could be stimulated in both cell types. To establish a possible link between early changes in cation fluxes and activation of gene expression by TPA, the induction of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was studied in detail. Addition of fresh medium containing serum or exposure to hypoosmotic conditions resulted in the induction of ODC in both 3T3 and 3T3-E12a cells. However, TPA failed to cause an increase in ODC activity in mutant cells, although a substantial induction of the enzyme was seen in parental cells. These results suggest that rapid changes in ion fluxes mediated by the Na+K+Cl- cotransport system are necessary for at least one of the phorbol ester-induced changes in gene expression in responsive cells.     

人衰老成纤维细胞经紫外线损伤后的DNA修复和细胞周期调控

 以体外培养的不同代龄的人胚肺二倍体成纤维细胞（２ Ｂ Ｓ）为对象,紫外线诱导 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 损伤后,观察细胞形态、增殖特性、细胞周期、 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 修复变化等细胞应答以及 ｇａｄｄ１５３、ｐ２１ Ｗ Ａ Ｆ１／ Ｃ Ｉ Ｐ１／ Ｓ Ｄ Ｉ１、ｐ５３ 等基因的转录水平的表达变化．结果显示：紫外线诱导 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 损伤后,衰老（＞ ５５ 代）２ Ｂ Ｓ细胞形态及增殖能力的改变不如年轻细胞（＜ ３０ 代）显著;不同代龄的细胞损伤后均出现 Ｇ１ 期阻滞现象,年轻细胞 Ｇ１ 期阻滞率明显高于衰老细胞（ Ｐ＜ ００５）;衰老细胞总的修复能力较年轻细胞明显下降（ Ｐ＜ ００１）;同时,ｇａｄｄ１５３、ｐ２１、ｐ５３ 等的可诱导性均低于年轻 ２ Ｂ Ｓ细胞．由此,分别在细胞水平与基因水平反映了衰老细胞经紫外线照射损伤后的细胞应答变化与修复机能减退的关系．     

Ultrastructural changes observed in Rickettsia rickettsii incubated at different temperatures in cell-free medium

When cells of Rickettsia rickettsii were suspended at different temperatures in growth medium free of host cells, ultrastructural changes were observed in some of these organisms. Depending upon the temperature and length of incubation, loosely organized cells developed into compact, intensely stained, rod-shaped organisms. These compact cells closely resembled the morphology of the original culture of Rickettsia used for inoculation. Morphological changes were primarily noted in cells maintained at 21 degrees C. The viability of the cells was also affected by the temperature of incubation.     

链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病恒河猴胰岛细胞数量的变化

目的观察链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导恒河猴糖尿病动物模型胰岛细胞数量变化和激素表达情况。方法健康恒河猴5只,小剂量（30 mg/kg）多次静脉注射STZ,濒死状态时将动物安乐死。取胰腺制成石蜡切片,用免疫组化染色法显示胰岛A、B、D和PP细胞,并对结果进行图像分析和统计学处理。结果与对照组比较,模型组B细胞数量减少,胰岛素表达降低（P〈0.01）。A细胞增生,胰高血糖素表达增加（P〈0.01）。PP细胞增生,胰多肽表达增加（P〈0.05）。D细胞数量与对照组比较无显著性差异。结论恒河猴糖尿病动物模型胰岛各种细胞的数量和激素表达情况与人类糖尿病类似。