广西南垌早石炭世巴平组下段牙形刺新材料

本文系统研究了广西南垌早石炭世巴平组下段丰富的牙形刺,识别出Siphonodella duplicata,S.cooperi,S.obosoleta,S.quadruplicata,S.lobata,S.crenulata,S.sandbergi,S.eurylobata,S.isosticha,Gnathodus delicatus等重要的带化石。首次报道和描述了产自Siphonodella crenulata带下部牙形刺新材料,其中确立一新种:Siphonodella nandongensis sp.nov.Li;一新未定种:Siphonodellasp.nov.A;且修订了Siphonodella trirostrata Druce(1969)的含义。依据上述牙形刺:Siphonodella nandongensis sp.nov.Li;Siphonodellasp.nov.A和Siphonodella trirostrata Druce(1969)发育特征,认为Siphonodella nandongensis sp.nov.Li与Siphonodella sexplicata;Siphonodella sp.nov.A与Siphonodella quadruplicata(Branson et Mehl);Siphonodella trirostrata Druce(1969)与Siphonodella sandbergi Klapper演化关系密切,并确定所描述的化石新材料的层位是Siphonodella crenulata带下部,地质时代为早石炭世早期,为进一步精细地层划分提供了翔实资料。     

Siphonodella leiosa (Conodonta), a new unornamented species from the Tournaisian (lower Carboniferous) of Puech de la Suque (Montagne Noire,France)

A new conodont species, Siphonodella leiosa, is described from the lower Carboniferous pelagic limestones of the Montagne Noire (France), deposited in North Gondwana on a outer platform environment. Specimens were obtained from one level dated to the Siphonodella jii conodont Zone. The major difference from other siphonodellid conodonts known in this area is that the elements of this new species have a practically entirely smooth and unornamented platform, apart from the development of one or two low rostral ridge-like nodes. Similar morphologies were generally observed in shallow marine deposits of the same time frame from China, Russia and East and Central European areas. The new discovery reinforces the idea that ornamentation of siphonodellids is not only related to bathymetry, but that temperature could play an important role in the diversification and radiation of unornamented species during the Siphonodella jii conodont Zone.     

Variation in the outline and distribution of epithelial cell imprints on the surface of polygnathacean conodont elements

The elements of many conodont taxa exhibit a polygonal surface micro-ornamentation. Four main types are recognized (striation, linear texture, regular (idiomorphic) texture and granular texture) and their distribution over the conodont elements of different morphology is considered. The intraspecific (ontogenetic and ecological) and interspecific (phylogenetic) causes of the reticulation texture variations are also considered.     

Transient acidification and subsequent proinflammatory cytokine stimulation of astrocytes induce distinct activation phenotypes

The foot processes of astrocytes cover over 60% of the surface of brain microvascular endothelial cells, regulating tight junction integrity. Retraction of astrocyte foot processes has been postulated to be a key mechanism in pathology. Therefore, movement of an astrocyte in response to a proinflammatory cytokine or even limited retraction of processes would result in leaky junctions between endothelial cells. Astrocytes lie at the gateway to the CNS and are instrumental in controlling leukocyte entry. Cultured astrocytes typically have a polygonal morphology until stimulated. We hypothesized that cultured astrocytes which were induced to stellate would have an activated phenotype compared with polygonal cells. We investigated the activation of astrocytes derived from adult macaques to the cytokine TNF‐α under resting and stellated conditions by four parameters: morphology, intermediate filament expression, adhesion, and cytokine secretion. Astrocytes were stellated following transient acidification; resulting in increased expression of GFAP and vimentin. Stellation was accompanied by decreased adhesion that could be recovered with proinflammatory cytokine treatment. Surprisingly, there was decreased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by stellated astrocytes compared with polygonal cells. These results suggest that astrocytes are capable of multiple phenotypes depending on the stimulus and the order stimuli are applied. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1284–1294, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Helper Function of Follicle Cells in Sperm-Egg Interactions of the Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis

Studies were made on the involvement in sperm-egg interactions of follicle cells of Ciona intestinalis , which are tall, vacuolated cells attached to the outer surface of the egg vitelline coat. The basal surface of the follicle cells is polygonal. The borders between cells could easily be observed by the binding of fluorescent SBA (soy bean agglutinin), a lectin recognizing N-acetylgalactosamine (GaINAc) residues. At fertilization many spermatozoa aggregate along these polygonal borders of cells on the vitelline coat, through which they entered the perivitelline space. The removal of follicle cells was sometimes associated with loss of SBA-binding sites, and in such cases the sperm did not show a hexagonal pattern of aggregation, but became dispersed all over the vitelline coat. Removal of the follicle sometimes delayed fertilization. Examination of sections of gametes stained with DAPI, a fluorescent dye staining DNA, showed that removal of the follicle reduced the number of spermatozoa bound to the vitelline coat and, more especially, the number of spermatozoa penetrating through the vitelline coat. The blockage of GalNAc residues on the vitelline coat with SBA did not appreciably affect the time course of fertilization or the number of sperm associated with eggs. These findings are discussed in relation to the role of follicle cells in facilitating sperm aggregation on the vitelline coat and their penetration through it.     

光魟毒腺的显微和超微结构

为探讨魟类螫伤机理,用光镜和电镜观察了光魟的毒棘腹外侧纵沟内的毒腺的组织结构。结果表明：光魟的毒腺为复层上皮。从基底面到游离面依次为基底层、棘细胞层和嗜酸性细胞层。基底层细胞和棘层的细胞嗜碱性,棘细胞间有少量、散在分布的嗜酸性细胞;棘细胞的外层至腺上皮的游离面的嗜酸性细胞密集排列。电镜下可见基底细胞有丰富的核糖体。棘细胞内粗面内质网、高尔基复合体等较丰富。嗜酸性细胞内有电子密度低的膜包分泌颗粒;接近表面的细胞内颗粒部分融合;表层细胞核消失,胞质充满融合的颗粒,游离面侧的胞膜呈角质样增厚。腺上皮内还可见到黑色素细胞、郎格罕细胞和梅克尔细胞。提示毒腺组织内有两种类型的细胞,一类为毒液形成细胞,另一类为非毒液形成细胞。嗜酸性细胞内的电子密度低的膜包分泌颗粒成分可能是造成螫伤剧痛及全身症状的关键因素。     

Protein and carbohydrate histochemistry in relation to the keratinization in the epidermis of Barbus sophor (Cyprinidae, Pisces)

The distribution of protein and carbohydrate constituents in the epidermis of Barbus sophor is described in order to give a better understanding of its cellular organization and physiology.
Various cytochemical techniques show the keratinized nature of the outer free margins of the polygonal cells in the most-superficial layer. These contain appreciable amounts of cysteine bound sulphydryl groups, basic proteins, protein bound NH₂ groups, ribonucleic acid and calcium and give a strong Papanicolaou's reaction. Absence of cystine bound disulphide groups suggests that the cornified layer in B. sophor is probably mechanically weak as adjacent keratin chains remain unbonded. The polygonal cells showing keratinization at the outer free margins remain metabolically active and are not sloughed off at the surface. This is in contrast to the keratinized epidermis of other teleosts so far reported in which the keratinized cells are dead and are sloughed off at the surface.
In addition to keratinization the polygonal cells undergo mucogenesis synthesizing sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides.
The presence of eosinophilic granular cells in the epidermis is interesting. The possible role of these cells in the protection of the epidermis has been discussed. The epidermis on the inner surface of the scale is very thin so it may not have much protective significance in these areas.     

海南岛晚泥盆世—早石炭世牙形刺

作者描述了海南岛昌江县石碌地区昌江组首次发现的牙形刺Palmatolepis gracilis gracilis Bransonet Me-hl,P.gracilis sigmoidalis Ziegler,Polygnathus ansatus Ziegleret Klapper,Polynodosus germanus(UlrichetBassler),Neopolygnathus dentatus(Druce)等和白沙县金波地区南好组第二段的Siphonodella levis(Ni),Polygnathus cf. inornatus Branson等,共8属20种,并据此将含化石地层分别确定为晚泥盆世法门期和早石炭世杜内期早期。指出以往认为是中泥盆统吉维特阶带化石Polygnathus ansatus Ziegleret Klapper与法门期牙形刺化石共同出现于昌江组并非构造混杂所致,但并不排除可能是化石再沉积作用的原因。同意将Polynodosus属从Polygnathus属中分离出来,在我国首次采用Polynodosus。     

Texture mapping parametric molecular surfaces

Texture mapping is an increasingly popular technique in molecular modeling. It is particularly effective in representing high-resolution surface detail using a low-resolution polygonal model. We describe how texture mapping can be used with parametric molecular surfaces represented as expansions of spherical harmonic functions. We define analytically the texture image and its transformation to a parametric surface. Unlike most methods of texture mapping, this transformation defines a one-to-one correspondence between the surface and the texture; texture coordinates are derived from the location of the surface point and not from physical properties at the surface point. This has advantates for the interactive visualization of surface data. We control the interactive response time by lowering the resolution of the polygon mesh while retaining the high-resolution detail of the texture, or we can lower the resolution of the texture image with the same polygonal model. By using a well-defined convention for texture coordinates, we can use the same image for the original surface or its parametric representation, and we can rapidly switch between images that represent different surface properties without recomputing the texture coordinates. Parametric surfaces allow new flexibility for the visualization of molecular surface data.     

苏北滨海—宝应地区石炭系牙形刺

本文记述了滨海县新港滨Ⅱ-2孔和宝应县黄浦黄10孔石炭系牙形刺13属16种5亚种和3个未定种。它们自下而上可归属4个牙形刺带和1个亚带。下石炭统的Siphonodella levis-Polyg-nathus inornatus带(含 Siphonodella eurylobata-Polygnaths streeli亚带)和 Gnathodus girtyi带;上石炭统的 Idiognathoides sulcatus带和 Idiognathodus delicatus-I.sinuosus带。     

Culture and Characterization of Epithelial Cells from Bovine Choroid Plexus

Epithelial cells were isolated from choroid plexus, which plays a major role in cerebrospinal fluid production and regulation. Incubation of bovine choroid plexuses with pronase released cells which attached to plastic dishes with a plating efficiency of 5%. The cells were predominantly polygonal as judged by phase-contrast microscopy. These polygonal cells undergo limited cell division and survive for 1-2 weeks in culture before being overgrown by fibroblasts. The fibroblastic cells could be selectively removed from the cultures but the addition of 100 microgram/ml cis-hydroxyproline to the medium for several days. The specific activities of three membrane-bound enzymes, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase were compared in selective cultures of polygonal cells and fibroblasts. Polygonal cells were found to have 4-5 times the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase of fibroblasts, whereas fibroblasts have 2-3 times the alkaline phosphatase of polygonal cells. Leucine aminopeptidase levels in the two cultures were roughly equivalent. The polygonal cells rapidly lost gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity over a 4-day period in culture but acquired increased levels of leucine aminopeptidase. Alkaline phosphatase remained roughly constant. Under similar conditions fibroblasts showed a 3- to 4-fold increase in the specific activities of all three enzymes; these changes coincided with a substantial increase in cell density. Based on morphology, resistance to cis-hydroxyproline, absence of antihemophilic factor antigen, and enzymatic characteristics, we believe the polygonal cells to be of epithelial origin.     

Micromorphological studies on Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) in Iran with emphasis on seed surface, capsule ornamentation and trichomes

Seed micromorphology in 22 species, capsule surface in 28 species and capsule hairs in 20 species of genus Verbascum distributed in Iran were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The seed surface is ridged or alveolate among the studied species. Depth and density of the alveoli or ridges, size of polygonal cells along with arrangement of vesicles on the walls separating the polygonal cells on the seed surface seem to be species-specific in Verbascum. The capsule surface is striate, distinctly or indistinctly, or even smooth in Verbascum. The capsules are rarely glabrous (in V. orientale and V. intricatum), densely covered by branched hairs, or loosely by glandular hairs, depending on species. From the results of this study it is obvious that no correlation exists between the studied species concerning the micromorphological aspects studied here.     

External morphology of the eggs of Tinea pallescentella stainton,Tinea occidentella chambers,and Niditinea fuscella (L.) (lepidoptera: Tineidae)

The eggs of Tinea pallescentella Stainton, Tinea occidentella Chambers, and Niditinea fuscella (L.) (Lepidoptera : Tineidae) were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Eggs of PT. pallescentella are subcylindrical (0.64 × 0.33 mm) and marked by a reticulate pattern of polygonal cells overlain cells by a finer reticulum of minute, closely spaced sinuous ridges or carinae. Eggs of T. occidentella are subcylindrical (0.62 × 0.36 mm) and marked by a reticulate pattern of polygons, which is faint except on the anterior end, where the cells are outlined by ruffled carinae. The surface of the chorion is wrinkled, and the micropylar area is often raised, forming a nipple on the anterior end. Eggs of N. fuscella are subcylindrical or occasionally ellipsoid (0.45 × 0.28 mm) and marked by a bold pattern of strongly depressed polygonal cells outlined by heavy ridges. The cell discs of the anterior end are punctuated by numerous short carinae, some of which extend transversely over the surrounding ridges. At high magnification, much of the surface shows a porous texture.     

A computer simulation of geometrical configurations during cell division

A process of cell division in the blastular wall of the starfish, Asterina pectinifera, was observed, and an attempt was made to model with a computer simulation the way in which cell number increases in such a tissue. Dividing cells at stages between the 2(11)-cell and the beginning of rotation were observed to shift these positions to the outer surface of the cell sheet by rounding up, after which they divide and slip back into the sheet as two columnar daughter cells. The change of a polygonal pattern of the blastular wall by cell division was simulated by making use of geometrical models of polygonal cells and the rule of the direction of cell division which was confirmed by observation. The simulation proves valid for describing changes of polygonal patterns of cell sheets including dividing cells.     

Immunocytochemistry of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum

Abstract. The polygonal arrangement of actomyosin fibrils in different stages of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum is correlated with morphogenetic processes at the cell surface. Light and electron microscopic investigations on both endoplasmic drops and thin-spread small plasmodia demonstrate that the differentiation of a polygonal pattern depends on a transient deficiency of plasma membrane invaginations.
Glycerol-extracted specimens show condensation and drastic spatial changes in the organization of the polygonal net after addition of ATP, thus indicating contractile properties of this system. Observations with the polarizing microscope reveal rhythmic changes in fibrillar birefringence intensity corresponding to the protoplasmic streaming activity, i.e., birefringence increases during contraction and decreases during relaxation. Cell fusion experiments, local irradiation with blue light (450 nm), and chemical treatment by impeding the mitochondria1 function with DNP (2,4-di-nitrophenol) demonstrate morphological as well as physiological interdependences of the actomyosin system, the motive force generation, and the expression of a locomotor polarity in plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum.     

Basement membranes: Putting up the barriers

The basement membrane is a highly organized extracellular matrix with adhesive and barrier functions. Assembly of this matrix uses two types of cell surface receptor, integrins and dystroglycan, to coordinate formation of a polygonal network of laminin, a major basement membrane protein.     

The Plasma Membrane of Myxosporidian Valve Cells: Freeze Fracture Data

Freeze fracturing of Myxosporidian spores reveals the occurrence of a continuous layer of transmembrane particles all over the surface area of the valve cells which form the spore envelope. These particles are densely packed all over the P face membrane. Due to their polygonal outline, their diameter (6-7 nm) and their central core, they resemble the particles forming the connections of gap junctions which metabolically couple the neighboring cells in animal tissues. In the present report, the role of the transmembrane particles is still hypothetical. However, they might represent a membrane structural specialization of the spores which are submitted to osmotic variations of the fluid external medium. Furthermore similar transmembrane particles are observed at the level of the septate junction which seals the valve cells. In this occurrence, they are arranged in a series of 40 double rows parallel to the suture of the spore envelope. These findings support the view that Myxosporidia are Metazoa and raise the problem of their origin.     

The plasma membrane of myxosporidian valve cells: freeze fracture data

Freeze fracturing of Myxosporidian spores reveals the occurrence of a continuous layer of transmembrane particles all over the surface area of the valve cells which form the spore envelope. These particles are densely packed all over the P face membrane. Due to their polygonal outline, their diameter (6-7 nm) and their central core, they resemble the particles forming the connections of gap junctions which metabolically couple the neighboring cells in animal tissues. In the present report, the role of the transmembrane particles is still hypothetical. However, they might represent a membrane structural specialization of the spores which are submitted to osmotic variations of the fluid external medium. Furthermore similar transmembrane particles are observed at the level of the septate junction which seals the valve cells. In this occurrence, they are arranged in a series of 40 double rows parallel to the suture of the spore envelope. These findings support the view that Myxosporidia are Metazoa and raise the problem of their origin.     

Histochemistry and the structure of the epidermis of a fresh-water teleost Noemacheilus botia (Hamilton-Buchanon) (Cobitidae, Pisces)

Functional organization and the histochemical nature of the various cellular components of the epidermis of Noemacheilus botia are described. The various histochemical techniques reveal the basic proteinaccous nature of the outer free margins of the polygonal cells of the most superficial layer of the epidermis. These cells remain metabolically active as revealed by their healthy nuclei and are not sloughed off at the surface. the lateral cell membranes of these cells are fused together forming a continuous barrier which plays important role in water proofing the skin. In addition the polygonal cells in the most superficial layer also undergo the process of mucogenesis synthesizing sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides which may ultimately form a part of the contents of the protective extracellular cuticular coat.