A METHOD FOR ISOLATING INTACT MITOCHONDRIA AND NUCLEI FROM THE SAME HOMOGENATE,AND THE INFLUENCE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DESTRUCTION ON THE PROPERTIES OF CELL NUCLEI

1. An improved type of ground glass homogenizer for soft tissues has been described which brings about a high degree of cell disruption and liberation of nuclei without causing appreciable damage to mitochondria. The gentleness and effectiveness of the new homogenizer in respect to isolation of mitochondria have been ascertained by comparing the ATP-ase activities of mitochondria isolated in 0.25 M sucrose solution without pH adjustment using a previous type of homogenizer with those of mitochondria isolated under the same conditions with the aid of the new homogenizer. In these experiments sucrose of 0.25 molarity without pH adjustment has been used in order to maintain the mitochondria in a rather sensitive state so as to make slightly deleterious effects of homogenization readily apparent. 2. A new method is described for the isolation of morphologically intact mitochondria and cell nuclei from the same homogenate. In this procedure the pH of the homogenate in 0.44 M sucrose is maintained at 6.0–6.2 with citric acid during the homogenization. An alternative method employing 0.44 M sucrose plus 0.005 M CaCl₂ is given for the isolation of nuclei from tumor cells. However, the latter method does not produce unaltered mitochondria. 3. The α-ketoglutarate, malate, succinate, and hexanoate oxidases of the "intact" mitochondria isolated in 0.44 M sucrose adjusted to pH 6.0–6.2 with very dilute citric acid as described in this paper have been investigated, and it has been shown that the mitochondria compare favorably to those isolated in 0.25 M sucrose by a previously described method. 4. Mitochondria have been found to contain an enzyme which causes nuclei to lose their ability to form gels in dilute alkali. This enzyme is released from the mitochondria when the latter are disrupted. 5. Some properties of nuclei isolated by the new method have been briefly discussed.     

HELICAL FILAMENTS IN ASTROCYTIC MITOCHONDRIA OF THE CORPUS STRIATUM IN THE RAT

Astrocytic mitochondria have been studied in serial electron micrographs of the corpus striatum. Special filaments have been found inside several of these mitochondria located in both the cell body and the processes. They were particularly frequently observed in the pericapillary end-feet. The filaments occur within dilated intracristal spaces provided with several communications with the outer chamber, and form helices which are oriented approximately in the same direction. Each filament is about 30 A thick, the diameter of the helix is 140 A, and the pitch is 120 A. Their possible nature and significance are briefly discussed. There is no clear relationship between these mitochondria and other unusual forms of mitochondria previously described in astrocytes from other regions.     

THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE SWELLING PROCESS IN RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

Through the use of combined spectrophotometric and electron microscope techniques, large amplitude swelling of rat liver mitochondria has been described as an ordered sequence of ultrastructural transitions. Prior to the actual swelling, mitochondria undergo two major conformational changes: condensed to twisted form and twisted to orthodox form. This sequence is independent of (a) the nature of swelling agents and (b) the time of onset of swelling. Agents that delay the onset of swelling act to increase the duration of the twisted conformation. Agents that prevent extensive swelling hold mitochondria in intermediate conformations. Gross swelling, immediately preceded by a decrease in electron opacity of the matrix, involves the rupture of the outer membrane and expansion of the inner compartment of the mitochondrion.     

THE STRUCTURE OF PIGEON BREAST MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIA

The structure of pigeon breast muscle mitochondria was studied both in whole muscle tissue and in mitochondrial fractions separated by differential centrifugation. No evidence was found to indicate that the mitochondria of pigeon breast muscle differ in any fundamental way from those of other tissues. In particular the absence of an enveloping membrane, claimed in recent reports, was not confirmed. The structure of the lipide bodies present in muscle has been described, and compared with that of similar bodies in other tissues.     

PLURIVESICULAR SECRETORY PROCESSES AND NERVE ENDINGS IN THE PINEAL GLAND OF THE RAT

The pineal body of white normal rats, 1.5 to 3 months old, was studied under the electron microscope. A single type of parenchymal cell—the pinealocyte—is recognized as the main component of the tissue, and some of the structural characteristics of the nucleus and cytoplasm are described. The main morphological characteristic of the pinealocytes is represented by club-shaped perivascular expansions connected to the cell by thin pedicles. They are found lying in a large, clear space surrounding the blood capillaries. The name plurivesicular secretory processes is proposed, to emphasize the main structural feature and the probable function of these cellular expansions. A tubulofibrillar component is mainly found in the pedicle, and within the expansion there are numerous small mitochondria and densily packed vesicles of about 425 A. Two types of vesicles, one with a homogeneous content and another with a very dense osmium deposit, are described. Between the two types there are intermediary forms. In these processes, mitochondria show profound changes which may lead to complete vacuolization. The significance of this plurivesicular secretory component is discussed in the light of recent work on the biogenic amines of the pineal body and preliminary experiments showing the release of the vesicles containing dense granules after treatment with reserpine. These vesicles are interpreted as the site of storage of some of the biogenic amines. Bundles of unmyelinated nerve fibers and endings on large blood vessels which also contain a plurivesicular content are described and tentatively interpreted as adrenergic nerve terminals.     

THE BASE OF THE PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE CELLS OF RAT KIDNEY

The three dimensional arrangement of the compartments on the base of proximal convoluted tubule cells of rat kidney is described. An extracellular basal labyrinth is found to be enclosed by these compartments. The compartments with their mitochondria and the basal labyrinth are regarded as forming a functional unit. It is supposed that this basal unit serves for excretion of reabsorbed fluid from the cell into the labyrinth and for the development of hydrostatic pressure in the labyrinth to overcome the capillary pressure and to pass the reabsorbed fluid into the blood stream.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE AXON AND GROWTH CONE OF THE DORSAL ROOT NEUROBLAST OF THE RABBIT EMBRYO

The centrally directed neurite of the dorsal root neuroblast has been described from the period of its initial entrance into the neural tube until a well-defined dorsal root is formed. Large numbers of microtubules, channels of agranular reticulum, and clusters of ribosomes are found throughout the length of the early axons. The filopodia of the growth cone appear as long thin processes or as broad flanges of cytoplasm having a finely filamentous matrix material and occasionally small ovoid or elongate vesicles. At first the varicosity is a small expansion of cytoplasm, usually containing channels of agranular reticulum and a few other organelles. The widely dilated cisternae of agranular reticulum frequently found within the growth cone probably correspond to the pinocytotic vacuoles seen in neurites in tissue culture. The varicosities enlarge to form bulbous masses of cytoplasm, which may measure up to 5 µ in width and 13 µ in length. They contain channels of agranular reticulum, microtubules, neurofilaments, mitochondria, heterogeneous dense bodies, and a few clusters of ribosomes. Large ovoid mitochondria having ribonucleoprotein particles in their matrix are common. Dense membrane specializations are found at the basal surface of the neuro-epithelial cell close to the area where the early neurites first enter the neural tube.     

阳离子及ATP对绿豆线粒体膨胀与收缩的影响

本文报道了一价阳离子 K~+、Na~+及两价阳离子 Mg~(++)、Ca~(++)以及 ATP 对绿豆线粒体膨胀和收缩的影响。K~+、Na~+在低渗条件下引起线粒体瞬时的迅速膨胀。在同样离子强度下K~+引起的膨胀大于 Na~+。ATP 和 Mg~(++)能诱发低渗条件下膨胀线粒体的收缩,但对等渗和高渗 KCl 或 Nacl 溶液中膨胀的线粒体无明显作用。生理浓度的 Mg~(++)、Ca~(++)在低渗条件下引起线粒体缓慢的但幅度较大的膨胀,5mmol/l ATP 引起这种膨胀线粒体的部分收缩。1mmol/lca~(++)在含0.125mmol/l KCl 或在含0.25mol/l甘露醇的等渗介质中几乎不引起膨胀,而ATP 促进大幅度膨胀,10mmol/l MgCl_2引起这种膨胀线粒体的部分收缩。2mmol/l MgCl_2在含有0.25mol/l 甘露醇的等渗介质中引起明显膨胀,ATP 促进这种膨胀。0.125mol/lKCl+2mmol/l MgCl_2为肌动蛋白从单体聚合成多聚体所必须的条件。在此条件下,线粒体几乎不膨胀,而加入 ATP 后则促进大幅度膨胀。在电子显微镜下观察了等渗及低渗条件下线粒体形态变化。     

北京鸭产卵期输卵管管状腺细胞超微结构研究

用电子显徽镜对北京鸭输卵管管状腺细胞进行观察。鸭输卵管由五部分组成:漏斗、蛋白分泌部、峡部、壳腺和阴道。蛋白分泌部的管状腺细胞有四种类型。A型细胞有电子密度深色颗粒;B型细胞充满了无定型低电子密度物质;C型细胞具有非常明显的粗面内质网和高尔基复合体;D型细胞是由致密的颗粒和低电子密度的颗粒所组成,腔内充满分泌颗粒。我们在这篇文章中分析了蛋白分泌周期的四个不同阶段。     

SUBMICROSCOPIC CHANGES OF THE SYNAPSE AFTER NERVE SECTION IN THE ACOUSTIC GANGLION OF THE GUINEA PIG. AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY

The degenerative changes of the synaptic regions after nerve section have been studied with the electron microscope in the interneuronal synapse of the ventral ganglion of the acoustic nerve of the guinea pig. Fixation with buffered osmic tetroxide was carried out 22, 44, and 48 hours after destruction of the cochlea on one side; the contralateral ganglion being used as control. The submicroscopic organization of normal axosomatic and axodendritic synapses is described. In the synaptic ending four morphological components are recognized: the membrane, the mitochondria, the synaptic vesicles (19, 20), and the cytoplasmic matrix. The intimate contact of glial processes with the endings and with the surface of the nerve cell is described. At the level of the synaptic junction there is a direct contact of the limiting membranes of the ending and of the cell body or dendrite. Both contacting membranes constitute the synaptic one with a total thickness of about 250 A. This membrane has regions of higher electron density where the synaptic vesicles come into intimate contact and fuse with it. Definite degenerative submicroscopic changes in the nerve endings were observed after 22 hours of destruction of the cochlea and were much more conspicuous after 44 and 48 hours. After 22 hours there is swelling of the ending and decreased electron density of the matrix. Most synaptic vesicles have disappeared or seem to undergo a process of clumping and dissolution. Some mitochondria also show signs of degeneration. After 44 hours the synaptic vesicles have practically disappeared; mitochondria are in different stages of lysis; the membrane of the ending becomes irregular in shape, and there is shrinkage and in some cases detachment of the ending. No changes in the postsynaptic cytoplasm were observed. These observations and particularly the rapid lysis of the synaptic vesicles are discussed in correlation with data from the literature indicating the early alteration of synaptic function and the biochemical changes occurring after section of the afferent nerve. The hypothesis that the synaptic vesicles may be carriers of acetylcholine or other active substances (19, 20) and that they may act as biochemical units in synaptic transmission is also discussed.²     

SYNAPSES IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

A number of different synapses have been described in the medulla, cerebellar cortex, and cerebral cortex of the rat. All of these possess the same fundamental fine structure as follows: 1. Close apposition of the limiting membranes of presynaptic and postsynaptic cells without any protoplasmic continuity across the synapse. The two apposed membranes are separated by a cleft about 200 A wide, and display localized regions of thickening and increased density. 2. The presynaptic expansion of the axon, the end-foot or bouton terminal, contains a collection of mitochondria and clusters of small vesicles about 200 to 650 A in diameter. Although the significance of these structures in the physiology of the synapse is still unknown, two suggestions are made: that the mitochondria, by means of the relation between their enzymatic activity and ion transport, participate in the electrical phenomena about the synapse; and that the small synaptic vesicles provide the morphological representation of the prejunctional, subcellular units of neurohumoral discharge at the synapse demanded by physiological evidence.     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES ON THE DICTYOSOMES AND ACROBLASTS IN THE MALE GERM CELLS OF THE CRICKET

The dictyosome (Golgi body) in the secondary spermatocyte of the cricket appears in electron micrographs as a duplex structure composed of (a) a group of parallel double-membraned lamellae and (b) a group of associated vacuoles arranged along the compact lamellae in a chain-like fashion. This arrangement of ultramicroscopic structure for the dictyosomes is strikingly comparable to that described for the Golgi apparatus of vertebrates. Accordingly, the two are considered homologous structures. Associated with the duplex structure of the dictyosomes is a differentiated region composed of small vacuoles. This is thought to represent the pro-acrosome region described in light microscope preparations. In the spermatid the dictyosomes fuse, giving rise to the acroblast. Like the dictyosomes, the acroblasts are made up of double-membraned lamellae and associated vacuoles. In addition, a differentiated acrosome region is present which, in some preparations, may display the acrosome vacuole and granule. Both the dictyosomes and acroblasts are distinct from mitochondria.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF GLENODINIOPSIS STEINII (DINOPHYCEAE)

The freshwater dinoflagellate Glenodiniopsis steinii Wolsoszyńska was examined using computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction of serially sectioned cells observed with the transmission electron microscope and images from the scanning electron microscope. Vegetative cells contain ultrastructure typical of freshwater dinoflagellates including trichocysts, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, starch grains, and lipid bodies. The chloroplast is a single, multilobed structure, not multiple discoid chloroplasts as previously described. The “C” shape of the nucleus is apparently due in part to the size and location of the pusule.     

THE PENETRATION OF THE MEMBRANE OF BRAIN MITOCHONDRIA BY ANIONS

The permeability of the membrane of rat brain non-synaptosomal mitochondria, towards inorganic and substrate anions, was assessed by measuring the rate of swelling that occurred when mitochondria were suspended in an iso-osmotic solution of a permeant anion, in the presence of a permeant cation such as NH⁺₄ or K⁺ in the presence or absence of valinomycin. In NH⁺₄-phosphate swelling was higher than it was in KCI or K⁺-phosphate, which showed the prevalence of the mechanism of phosphate transport previously demonstrated in liver mitochondria. The entry of succinate and L-malate seemed to require the presence in the inner mitochondrial membrane of specific carriers. as previously postulated for liver mitochondria, but the rate of swelling of brain mitochondria was lower than that of liver organelles. In K⁺-succinate, in the presence of antimycin, added ATP induced swelling and this was attributable to the simultaneous permeation both of the anion and the cation. Fumarate did not penetrate into brain mitochondria. Practically no swelling was recorded in NH⁺₄ or K⁺-citrate, which indicated that this anion penetrated poorly into the isolated brain mitochondria even in the presence of malate. Swelling occurred in NH⁺₄-L-glutamate in the presence of rotenone, and the entry of this anion seemed to follow a gradient of concentration although the presence of a specific translocator in the inner mitochondrial membrane might be concerned. The entry of glutamate was independent of that of phosphate and N-ethylmaleimide appeared to be a specific inhibitor of this entry. Swelling in K⁺-L-glutamate, in the presence of rotenone, was enhanced by the addition of valinomycin or ATP but in the latter case when osmotic equilibrium was reached swelling was not reversed by oligomycin. In conclusion, the lesser extent of swelling of isolated brain mitochondria compared with liver mitochondria could be attributed to the heterogeneity of the populations of these organelles, each population possessing its own characteristics of membrane permeability. Observations of electron micrographs of brain mitochondria incubated in iso-osmotic substrate anions confirmed the heterogeneous rate of swelling of these particles.     

THE EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION UPON MITOCHONDRIA OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

After irradiation of rats with a linear electron accelerator, the respiratory rate in rat brain mitochondria was studied in the presence of substrate + ADP and after the conversion of ADP → ATP. After 20,000 rads of irradiation to the head there was a transient diminution of mitochondrial respiratory control when glutamate was used as the substrate, but no changes were observed when succinate was the substrate. Irradiation with 10,000 rads had no effect upon respiratory control. The addition of NADH₂ to irradiated mitochondria had no effect upon mitochondrial respiration. Irradiation of the brain with 20,000 rads failed to produce mitochondrial peroxidation or swelling, even in the presence of FeNH₄(SO₄)₂ or ascorbate. The slight changes in respiratory control of brain mitochondria following irradiation is in marked contrast to the susceptibility of mitochondria from other organs. The comparative radioresistance of brain mitochondria may be the result of greatly diminished radiation-induced peroxidation of cerebral mitochondrial membranes.     

THE DEGENERATION AND REAPPEARANCE OF MITOCHONDRIA IN THE EGG CELLS OF A PLANT

Details are given of the elimination of mitochondria which occurs during the first 1 to 2 hours of the life of the egg of the fern Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. During this phase the only mitochondria present are swollen and appear degenerate, but subsequently the cytoplasm of the egg becomes filled with large mitochondria containing numerous villi. Accompanying the appearance of these mitochondria, many, if not all of which have a peculiar umbo-like form, is the production by the nucleus of conspicuous and complex evaginations. The umbo-mitochondria are believed to be new, and a mechanism is suggested by which they may be generated from the complex evaginations of the nucleus.     

STUDIES ON THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF MITOCHONDRIA AND CELL MORPHOLOGY IN THE NEONATAL SWINE HEPATOCYTE

Mitochondrial preparations isolated from neonatal swine hepatocytes show a marked increase in oxidative and concomitant phosphorylative capacity between birth and 2 days postpartum. There are no changes in the coupling parameters (respiratory control ratio and adenosine diphosphate/O ratio) with age. Changes in sedimentation properties in a sucrose gradient suggest qualitative changes in the mitochondria. Some of the lipid measurements (increased phospholipid) might be interpreted as supportive of this suggestion, although most could also be regarded as indicative of quantitative changes (increased number of mitochondria). Electron microscopy of isolated mitochondria and of the hepatocyte demonstrated an increased number of mitochondria but no change in shape, size, or structure as the pig developed. An increase in a number of cytoplasmic components (Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum) and a decrease in glycogen were also observed. The functional changes in mitochondria seem to occur within a short period of time (6–12 hr postpartum).     

LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF MITOCHONDRIA DURING SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE GRASSHOPPER

1. Observations on the morphological changes of mitochondria preparatory to the formation of the nebenkern, as well as changes within the nebenkern, are reported. 2. Mitochondria enlarge and divide during the meiotic divisions. 3. The mitochondria of the spermatid elongate, become filamentous, form a crescent, and partially encircle the nucleus. 4. Nodes which develop on either end of the crescent become entwined as they move toward each other. 5. The two nodes coalesce to form a filamentous or early type nebenkern which is described by others as chromophilic. 6. Internal rearrangement and partial dissolution of the filaments result in the development of the late or chromophobic nebenkern which separates into two distinct bodies. 7. The nebenkern moieties send out processes toward the centrosome, and after making contact, elongate and occupy part of the space between the tail filaments and sheath of the spermatozoon.