Nerve supply and distribution of cholinesterase activity in the external nose of the mole

Summary Nerve supply and the distribution of cholinesterase activity were studied in the skin of the external nose of seven moles using a simplified Bielschowsky-Gross silver method and Koelle's histochemical technique.The sensory units of the mole's nose or the organs of Eimer are surrounded by blood sinuses which facilitate their movements during mechanical stimulation. All nerve fibres of the plexus deep to the basal cell layer of Eimer's organ ultimately become intra-epidermal endings. Contrary to the findings of earlier investigators, Merkel's discs, Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini corpuscles have not been observed at the base of Eimer's organ. In the superficial layer of the plexus, the Schwann sheath cells increase in number, undergo modification and give a positive cholinesterase reaction.It is suggested that the organ of Eimer, the specialised nerve plexus deep to it and the surrounding blood sinus together constitute the touch receptor on a similar principle of transmission by leverage as in the tactile hair or the intermediate ridge of the papillary ridge.The role of the intra-epidermal nerve endings of the mole's nose as tactile receptors is disputed. A suggestion is made that tnese nerves may constitute pain and temperature receptors and that several modalities of sensation may be carried to the brain along one and the same medullated axon.We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Jill Hocknell. Our thanks are also due to Mr. C. J. Duncan and the staff of the Photography Department for their aid with the photographic work. We are particularly grateful to Mr. D. Burgess of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for kindly supplying us with live moles. One of the authors (N.C.) acknowledges an equipment grant from the Royal Society.     

Ultrastructure of the neurohaemal region of the toad median eminence

Summary According to the internal structure and size of the granules, six types of nerve endings can be distinguished in the toad median eminence: 1. Endings containing mostly dense granules of 600 Å in diameter; 2. Endings containing dense granules of about 800 Å in diameter; 3. Endings which contain dense granules 1,000–2,000 Å in diameter, with the peak at 1,200–1,400 Å; 4. Endings containing granules with a characteristic structure, which differentiate them from the other three types; 5. Scarce endings containing granules 2,000 to 3,800 Å in diameter; and 6. Endings containing only vesicles 400–500 Å in diameter. Types 3 and 4 endings are mainly found in the outer pericapillary zone, and are probably responsible for the strong Gomori-positive reaction observed in this zone. The other four types of endings occur mainly in the inner pericapillary zone, and appear to be Gomori-negative.The probable origins of the different types of endings, and their possible relations with the different releasing factors is discussed.The subendothelial basement membrane has numerous long processes which form a complicated network in contact with all the nerve endings, some nerve fibres and glial cells.Two types of glial cells are described. Pinocytotic vesicles are frequently seen at the points where these cells contact the basement membrane. All the ultrastructural features suggest that these cells are carrying out transport functions.Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.The author is very grateful to Professor H. Heller for his continued encouragement and criticism and to Mr. J. Lane and Mr. P. Heap for their valuable help.     

Some aspects of the fine structure of the statocysts of the molluscsPecten andPterotrachea

Summary The statocyst ofPecten is composed of hair cells and supporting cells. The hair cells bear kinocilia and microvilli at their distal ends and the supporting cells bear microvilli. The cilia have a 9+2 internal filament content, and arise from basal bodies that have roots, basal feet and microtubular connections. Two different ciliary arrangements are described, one with a small number of cilia arranged in a ring, and another with many more cilia arranged in rows. Below the hair cells are probable synapses. A ciliated duct connects to the lumen of the static sac and passes through the centre of the static nerve. The hair cells in the statocyst ofPterotrachea bear kinocilia and microvilli. The possible importance of cilia and microvilli in the transduction process is discussed.We would like to thank ProfessorJ. Z. Young for bringing specimens ofPterotrachea from Naples and also the staff of the Stazione Zoologica for the provision of specimens, Dr.M. Land for providing specimens ofPecten, the Science Research Council (U.K.) for providing the electron microscope used in much of the study and also for a grant to one of us (V.C.B.), and Mrs.J. Parkers and Mr.R. Moss and Mrs.J. Hamilton for much photographic and technical assistance.     

The yield of synaptosomes from the cerebral cortex of guinea pigs estimated by a polystyrene bead “tagging” procedure

Summary The number of synaptosomes (pinched-off nerve endings) produced/g guinea pig cortex on homogenizing this tissue under defined conditions is estimated to be in the region of 4×10¹¹ using two different polystyrene bead tagging procedures. This is the same order of magnitude as the number of nerve endings/g cortex calculated from histological estimates given in the literature of the number of neurones in the cortex and the extent of their cortical connexions.This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant no. NB 03928 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. Dr. Sheridan was a Postdoctoral fellow of the U.S. Public Health Service during the period of his participation in this investigation (1963/64). The electron microscope facilities were provided by the Wellcome Trust. Mr. T.F.J. Hobson, of the ARC Statistics group, Cambridge, kindly advised on statistical aspects of the work. We are most grateful to him, to Miss L. Swales and Mr. G.H.C. Dowe for their skilled technical assistance and to Dr. E.G. Gray for helpful discussions.     

Das nervensystem der cercarie von Catatropis indica srivastava, 1935 (Digenea : Notocotylidae) und der geschlechtsreifen form von Diaschistorchis multitesticularis Rohde, 1962 (Digenea : Pronocephalidae)

The nervous systems of the cercaria of Catatropis indica and of the adult Diaschistorchis multitesticularis are described. Ganglion cells, myoblasts and large cells of unknown nature in Diaschistorchis are described and figured.

---

---

Für technische Hilfe danke ich Miss Lilian Liz, Mr. Teh Kox Leng und Mr. K. Balakrishnan. Durchgeführt im Zoology Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

On the glycocalyx,the external coat of the plasma membrane,of some secretory cells

Summary The free surface of epithelial cells of secretory organs (human placenta, lactating mammary gland of the rat, choroid plexus of man and rat) and of the accessory organs of the genital tract of the male rat is characterized by a plasmalemmal differentiation named glycocalyx or surface mucous coat. This structure is built up by filamentous or globular substructures.Two main ultrastructural types of the glyeocalyx were observed: 1) The filamentous type such as in the rat epididymis, which resembles the cat intestinal glyeocalyx (Ito, 1965) and that one of human transitional epithelium (Monis and Zambrano, 1968), and 2) The globular type, as observed in the lumen of the lactating mammary gland of the rat.Sialic acid was demonstrated histochemically in the luminal glyeocalyx of all organs studied. In addition, the glyeocalyx of acinar cells of the lactating mammary gland contains sulfate and phosphate groups which were identified by histochemical technics, using enzymatic digestion procedures, suggesting the chemical heterogeneity of this glyeocalyx.Present investigations follow the working hypothesis that the complex carbohydrates of glycocalyces become part of the product of activity of secreting cells.We thank Mr. Luis Iwakawa, Miss Silvia Falcón, Miss Elsa M. Orgnero for technical help, Miss Graciela Aliaga for secretarial assistance. Photography by Mr. H. Magnani. Dr. Hugo F. Carrer cooperated in the initial stages of this investigation.The authors acknowledge the use of the electron microscope of the Department of Pathology, Córdoba University Medical School, for which they thank Prof. E. Mosquera and Dr. E. Hliba. Dr. Hliba photographed picture number 4.     

Kanamycin-induced changes in cochlear hair cells of the guinea pig

Summary Electron-microscopical studies on the organ of Corti in kanamycin-intoxicated guinea pigs showed that progressive changes occurred in the cochlear hair cells. The changes appeared first in the basal turn of the organ of Corti, and affected primarily the outer hair-cells. During the later stages of intoxication, degeneration spread from the basal turn upwards, in the direction of the apex of the cochlea and, finally, affected all the external hair-cells.The early changes caused clumping of the chromatin in the nucleus, swelling of the nuclear membrane, damage in the mitochondria, with vesiculation of the mitochondrial cristae, and the formation of lamellated structures. The lysosomes were converted into dense bodies exhibiting various degeneration patterns. The ribosomes disappeared at an early stage from the cytoplasm.Even in cells where severe changes had occurred the hairs and cuticle seemed to be intact.During the final stages the plasma membrane, as well as the hairs and cuticle, was destroyed, and only remnants of these structures remained.Even after the disappearance of the sensory cells and the afferent nerve endings, some efferent nerve endings were still present in the organ of Corti.The action of kanamycin seems to differ slightly from that of streptomycin, since the changes caused by kanamycin in the plasma membrane are a fairly late effect, whereas the earliest changes occur apparently in the RNA protein-synthesis system and in the mitochondria of the external hair-cells.

---

Zusammenfassung Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen am Cortischen Organ von Meerschweinchen mit Kanamycinintoxikation ergaben eine fortschreitende Schädigung der cochlearen Haarzellen. Die Veränderungen begannen in der basalen Schneckenwindung und betrafen vorwiegend die äußeren Haarzellen. In späteren Intoxikationsstadien breitete sich die Degeneration von der Basalwindung nach aufwärts bis in die Schneckenspitze aus und wurde schließlich an allen äußeren Haarzellen gesehen.Die früheren Veränderungen manifestierten sich am Kern mit Chromatinverklumpung, Schwellen der Kernmembran, Schädigung der Mitochondrion mit vesikulären Cristae mitochondriales und Bildung von Lamellenstrukturen. Die Lysosomen waren in dichte Körper verwandelt und wiesen verschiedene Degenerationsmuster auf. Die Ribosomen verschwanden früh aus dem Cytoplasma. Sogar in schwer geschädigten Zellen erschienen Haare und Cuticula intakt.In den Endstadien waren Plasmamembran, Haare und Cuticula bis auf Reste zerstört. Einige efferente Nervenendigungen waren selbst nach dem Verschwinden der Haarzellen und der afferenten Endigungen noch anzutreffen.Die Wirkung von Kanamycin ist offenbar etwas anders als die von Streptomycin, da die Veränderungen an der Plasmamembran ziemlich spät auftreten, während sich die frühesten Schäden im System der RNA-Proteinsynthese und in den Mitochondrien der äußeren Haarzellen zu manifestieren scheinen.

---

---

This investigation was supported by Grant No. NB 3956-03 from the US Public Health Service, the Swedish Medical Research Council, and Stiftelsen Therese and Johan Anderssons Minne. The skillful technical assistance of Miss Cathrine Lindholm, Miss Ann-Marie Lundberg, Miss Sonja Löfvenius, and Miss Gunilla Wiman is gratefully acknowledged. The kanamycin was kindly supplied by AB H. Lundbeck & Co.     

The subcellular fractionation of the electric organ of Torpedo

Summary The acetylcholine-rich electric organ of Torpedo has been submitted to subcellular fractionation in an attempt to isolate nerve endings and synaptic vesicles derived from cholinergic neurones. Fractions containing small vesicles and granules as their only morphologically identifiable components also contained appreciable amounts of bound acetylcholine; however, it was not possible to demonstrate a specific enrichment of any one fraction with respect to bound acetylcholine as has been possible in brain. The tissue proved difficult to homogenize and few detached nerve endings (synaptosomes) were formed. A low-speed fraction rich in Na, K- activated adenosine triphosphatase contained numerous membrane fragments with tubular appendages derived from the non-innervated surface of electroplaques. Homogenization in media isotonic with elasmobranch plasma (e.g. 0.5 M sucrose + 0.33 M urea) was essential to preserve the structure of osmotically sensitive organelles (e.g. mitochondria).We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. R. D. Keynes who arranged the supply of Torpedos and to Mr G. H. C. Dowe and Miss L. Swales for skilled technical assistance. The electron microscopic facilities were provided by a grant from the Wellcome Trust and the work was supported by a grant no. NB-03928-02 (to V.P.W.) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, U.S. Public Health Service. During the period of this work Dr. Sheridan held a Postdoctoral Fellowship of the U.S. Public Health Service and Dr. Israël was an Exchange Scholar of the Medical Research Council.We are also most grateful to Professor Sir Bryan Matthews, C.B.E., Sc. D., F.R.S., for providing aquarium facilities in the Physiological Laboratory of Cambridge University.     

Das nervensystem der gattung Polystomoides ward, 1917 (Monogenea)

The nervous systems of three species of Polystomoides are described. Methods of staining the nerves in trematodes and the relationship of the three trematode groups Digenea, Aspidogastrea and Monogenea are discussed.

---

---

Für technische Hilfe danke ich Miss LiLian Lim, Mr. Teh Kok Leng und Mr. K. Balahrishnan. Durchgefnhrt im Zoology Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Ultrastructure of the nodes of Ranvier and their surrounding structures in the central nervous system

Summary The nodes of Ranvier and their surrounding structures have been studied by means of serial and single ultrathin sections of the frog's optic tract and diencephalon.The following aspects of the ultrastructure of the myelin sheath at the nodes are described: (a) the site and manner of termination of the compact myelin and glia-satellite cytoplasm; (b) the reflection of the glia-satellite cytoplasm at the node; (c) the formation of compact myelin during development; (d) the involvement of the glia-satellite cell in the metabolism and impulse conduction of the fiber.The nodes are surrounded by a considerable extension of the extracellular space — the perinodal extracellular space or perinodal matrix. The ground substance of the perinodal matrix consists of ill defined granules arranged in patches or in fibrillar or vacuolar manner. Microvilli-like protuberances of the glia and nervous processes emerge into the perinodal matrix. The shape and the volume of the perinodal extracellular space is determined using a reconstruction method from a series of sections through the node in diencephalon.In the diencephalon nerve endings show close contact with the node and its surroundings. These nerve endings contain synaptic vesicles, mitochondria and small opaque particles. Small opaque particles, up to the present not recognized as components of synapses, have been observed in a number of nerve endings in the diencephalon. The possibility is considered that such nervous configurations at the node could be involved in subliminal interactions between different neurons.Based on the ultrastructural data the concept of nodal apparatus is introduced as a working hypothesis. The nodal apparatus consists of the node, terminal compartments of the glia-satellite cell, the perinodal matrix, and the surrounding glia and nervous structures, which may be involved in the nodal activities. The structural pattern of such a nodal apparatus may vary in different parts of the central nervous system indicating the possibility of variation in the functioning of the corresponding nodes.This investigation was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council, Canada (MA-1247).The author is very much indebted to Mrs. H. Rushforth for excellent technical assistance, to Mr. H. R. A. Meiborg, Groningen, for very skilful printing of the photographs and to Mr. Hoekstra, Groningen, who made the drawing of Fig. 8.     

The fine structure of sensory receptor processes in the auricular epithelium of the planarian,Dugesia tigrina

Summary The marginal epithelium of the lateral auricles of the planarian, Dugesia tigrina, includes a cell type with surface cilia and microvilli, a basal nucleus, and dense cytoplasm containing secretory vacuoles, Golgi elements, mitochondria and ribosomes. Through channels within the epithelial cytoplasm, cellular processes, interpreted as extensions of neurosensory receptor cells located in the subepidermis, project to the surface. The receptor processes, containing microtubules, mitochondria, vesicles and an agranular tubular reticulum, project beyond the epithelial cell surface; one or two cilia each emerge from a basal body in the apex of the projection. Close to the point of emergence to the epithelial surface, each cylindrical receptor process is surrounded by a collar-like septate junction between adjacent plasma membranes. The cilia of the projections differ from those of the epithelial cells in diameter, density of matrix and in the banding patterns of the rootlets. A few projections appear with the apex and basal body retracted below the epithelial surface. The possible function of these ciliated processes in sensory reception is discussed.This work was supported by Grant No. SO 1 FR 5369 from the U.S. Public Health Service to the University of Illinois at the Medical Center.I thank Dr. J. P. Marbarger, Director of the Research Resources Laboratory, for use of the electron microscope facilities, Miss Irena Kairys for technical help, Miss Marie Jaeger for assistance with photography, and Mr. Robert Parshall for the drawing.To Professor Arthur Wagg Pollister, I respectfully dedicate this article on the occasion of his retirement from Columbia University.     

The integument of the Queensland fruit fly,Ddacus tryoni (Frogg.)

Summary During the pupal stage of Dacus tryoni, the hypodermis of the larva is replaced by an imaginal generation of smaller cells. The hypodermal cells of the tergal glands on the fifth abdominal segment of the adult were examined with the electron microscope; they contain slender, membrane-limited bundles of hollow wax filaments that traverse the cuticle in branched pore canals. Outside the glandular areas, the pore canals are narrower. The cuticle of the adult undergoes its greatest increase in thickness soon after emergence; it becomes sclerotized gradually. No epicuticle was detected with either the light or electron microscopes.Early in adult development, bristles are formed over the general surface of the terga. Most of these are innervated by single, bipolar nerve cells, and have more or less enlarged trichogen cells that appear to secrete wax through pore-plates in the cuticle. The bristles in different regions of the abdomen range in function from pure sensory receptors to pure secretors. The sensory bristles on the tergal glands were examined with the electron microscope.For assistance with the electron microscopy, I thank Mr. Tony Webber and Miss Ann Miller of the Electron Microscopy Unit at Sydney University. — Supported by a C.S.I.R.O. Junior Post-Graduate Studentship.     

An electron microscopical study of the ventral nerve cord of the leech

Summary Three types of fibrillar structure can be seen with the electron microscope in nerve cells of the vental nerve cord of the leech: the neurofibrillar bundles, the tubules and the tonofibrils. In neuroglial cells only the tonofibrils are present. The three types are structurally distinct, and, contrary to past suggestions, there is no evidence that neurofibrillar bundles may consist of tightly packed or badly fixed tubules.In vertebrates the electron microscope reveals bundles of discrete neurofilaments that form the basis for the argyrophilic neurofibrillae seen by light microscopy. Each neurofilamentous unit appears as a dot in cross section. In contrast, in the leech, the electron microscope shows compact fibrillar bundles that clearly correspond to the neurofibrils described by light microscopists. These bundles are made up of closely packed units rather than discrete filaments and where the units occur singly they are seen to have an angular or stellate outline in cross section. To make this distinction clear these have been termed neurofibrillar bundles rather than neurofilaments.Attachment plaques occur in both neurons and neuroglia. These plaques have tonofibrils attached, and the glial tonofibrils are far more numerous than the neuronal tonofibrils. The glial fibrils are identical with the tonofibrils in the glial cells.The attachment plaques are invariably related to an extracellular space that contains material identical with the basement membrane. This material is continuous, by a complex system of channels and diverticulae, with the outer basement membrane in the neuron packets, but forms isolated patches in the other parts of the nervous system.We are grateful to Prof. J. Z. Young, F. R. S., for his encouragement to Mrs. Astafiev for the drawings, to Miss B. Shirra and Mr. K. Watkins for technical assistance and to Mr. S. Waterman for photography.     

Starvation effects on the ultrastructure of amoeba mitochondria

Summary Mitochondria in non-starved giant amoebae, Pelomyxa carolinensis, contain tubules lying at random in the matrix. Many mitochondria in starved amoebae have enlarged tubules aligned in a zigzag pattern. Tubules within the zigzag region are separated by very little matrix material. Some of these altered mitochondria are found in 70% of amoebae starved for only 24 hours, and in nearly all P. carolinensis starved for 8 days or longer. The percentage of such altered mitochondria increases from zero in most well-fed amoebae, to about 60% after two weeks of continuous starvation. Most P. carolinensis starved at 25° C survive less than three weeks. Microfilament bundles are observed in the matrix of some mitochondria in amoebae starved for more than two days.Work supported by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.The authors acknowledge the assistance of Miss Doris Jean Buer and Miss Patricia Ann Sustarsic.     

Cytochemistry of 5-hydroxytryptamine at the electron microscope level

Summary The nerves of rat pineal gland are known to contain norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. With the glutaraldehyde-dichromate reaction for the cytochemical localization of unsubstituted catechol- and indoleamines, dense reactive granules could be demonstrated in such endings. A similar reaction was observed in the adrenergic nerves supplying the vas deferens and storing exclusively norepinephrine. Formaldehyde fixation, prior to the glutaraldehyde-dichromate treatment, interferes with the reaction given by catecholamines not affecting the indolic reactive sites. After this combined procedure pineal nerves still exhibited the dense reactive granules, while these were not found in the nerves of the vas deferens. Following bilateral cervical sympathectomy reactive granules disappeared from the perivascular processes of the pineal gland. No reaction could be observed in the cytoplasm of parenchymal cells neither in their perivascular processes.These cytochemical results suggest that both catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine are contained within the granulated vesicles of pineal nerves.This work has been supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina and U.S.Air Force (AF-AFOSR 963-66).Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. We want to express our gratitude to Prof. E. De Robertis for his constant help and encouragement; and to Miss Nélida Fernández Oranges, Mr. Raúl Castelli and Mr. Alberto Sáenz for their skillful technical assistance.     

The fine structure of cephalopod blood vessels III. Vessel innervation

Summary The cephalic aorta of Octopus vulgaris has a fairly complete endothelium lining the lumen, a thick complete basement membrane, a layer of circularly orientated and a layer of longitudinally orientated muscle fibres. Presumptive synaptic endings are of two types. In the circular muscle, axons containing vesicles, contact club-shaped projections of the muscle. The gap between the pre- and postsynaptic membranes is less than 100 Å and in some places apparently forms a tight junction. The second type of ending has been found in the longitudinal muscle; here axons full of vesicles end on the muscle. The ending is enclosed by a mesaxon of muscle and the synaptic gap is approximately 100 Å. In the smaller blood vessels, axons end on myofilament-containing pericytes of blood vessels (equivalent to small arterioles). The endings contain vesicles and have a synaptic gap of 100 Å. Only some of the pericytes seem to be innervated and transmission between one pericyte to another may be mediated by specialized junctions between the cells. The smaller non-myofilament containing vessels (equivalent to capillaries) are not thought to be innervated.We would like to thank Professor J. Z. Young and Dr. E. G. Gray for advice and encouragement, Mrs. Jane Astafiev for drawing Figs. 1 and 12, Mr. S. Waterman for photography, and Miss Cheryl Martin for secretarial assistance.     

Histology and ultrastructure of the neural lobe of the lizard,Klauberina riversiana

Summary The pars nervosa of Klauberina riversiana belongs to a primitive tetrapod type which is characterized by the deep penetration of the infundibular recess, a thin-walled structure, and the virtual absence of pituicytes. The differential response of this gland to aldehyde fuchsin and periodic acid Schiff suggests the presence of two types of neurosecretory nerve endings. Ultrastructurally four kinds of nerve endings are distinguishable. Type I, probably a cholinergic nerve ending, contains only small clear vesicles ca. 400 Å in diameter. The relative abundance of cholinergic nerve endings in this pars nervosa may be related to the necessity of transporting hormone through the ependymal cell. Type II, containing granulated vesicles about 1,000 Å in diameter and probably aminergic, is very rare. The two remaining types apparently secrete neurohypophysial hormones. They are Type III, containing dense granules ca. 1,500 Å in diameter and Type IV containing pale granules ca. 1,500 Å in diameter. Evidence is reviewed which suggests that Type III nerve endings may secrete arginine vasotocin while Type IV endings may secrete (an)other hormone(s).All these axons end only on the ependymal cells, the vascular processes of which form a continuous cuff over the basement membranes of the blood vessels. Hence the ependymal cells link the cerebrospinal fluid, the nerve endings and the blood vessels. Particles resolvable with the electron microscope are traced through a possible transport pathway from the granules, through the ependymal cells to the basement membrane. It is suggested that pituicytes replace ependymal cells and assume their transport functions in animals with massive neural lobes containing large numbers of nerve endings and blood vessels.Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.This investigation was supported in part by a Public Health Service fellowship 1 FZ HD 32,949-01 REP from the national Institute of Child Health and Human Development.The authors wish to thank Professor H. Heller for his constant interest and constructive criticism.     

The fine structure of ependymal cells part II: An electron microscopic study of the soft-shelled turtle paraventricular organ,with special reference to the fine structure of ependymal cells and so-called albuminous substance

Summary The present study deals with the electron microscopic observations on the softshelled turtle paraventricular organ, with special reference to the relationship of the ependymal cells and the so-called albuminous substances. It is shown that the so-called albuminous substances consist of the tips of neuronal processes extending into the ventricular lumen. They probably arise from the nerve cells lying within the hypendymal or the underlying tissue. The ependymal cells of the PVO themselves are basically similar in structure to those of any other animal.The processes observed contain two types of vesicles, namely: the clear vesicle, 500 to 1600 Å in diameter, and the cored vesicle, measuring 600 to 1500 Å in diameter, which has a distinct membrane enclosing an extremely dense core of variable sizes. The functional significance of these vesicles is discussed in relation to that of inclusions in the neurosecretory and the autonomic nerve fibers in the hypothalamus.The findings indicate that in the terminal endings of the processes a production or formation of vesicles might occur and that these vesicles might be discharged into the cerebrospinal fluid by microapocrine secretion.The author's grateful thanks are due to Prof. E. Yamada for his continuously kind guidances and due to Prof. T. Sakurai for his constant encouragement.     

The fine structure of the olfactory tract in the teleost Carassius carassius L.

Summary Electronmicrographic montages of the olfactory tract at two levels in each of two fish (Carassius carassius L.) were constructed and fibre diameters measured using a Zeiss TGZ 3 particle size analyzer. Medial and lateral tract divisions, rhinocele and dorsal tela were identified. Ciliated ependymal cells line the rhinocele. Meninges form the outer covering of both tract divisions and the tela roofing the central canal.The lateral tract consists of 10–14 fasciculi in which myelinated nerve fibres are prominent. These fibres range in diameter between 0.2 and 1.8 (mean 0.7 ) consistent with conduction velocities averaging 0.6 m/sec recorded in the carp lateral olfactory tract.The medial division of the olfactory tract contains two larger fasciculi within which are numerous fine unmyelinated nerve fibres (mean diameter 0.17 ) arranged in bundles partly enveloped by glial cell processes. Myelinated nerve fibres are unevenly distributed within both fasciculi and have mean diameters of 0.6 .An interesting observation is the consistent presence of synapses within the largest bundle of the medial tract at all levels.Supported by Grant 5 Ro5 TW00154-03 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.The authors are indebted to the Fisheries and Wildlife Department who generously provided the fish from Snob's Creek Fish Hatchery, and gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. T. Armitage, Mr. J. Simmons and Miss D. Harrison.     

The fine structure of the perineural endothelium

Summary Fine strands of motor nerves were examined with the electron microscope using thin section as well as freeze-etching techniques. The specimens were taken from frog cutaneous pectoris nerve, rat sciatic nerve, mouse and shrew phrenic nerves and from human skin nerves. The perineural sheath (Henle, Ranvier, Key and Retzius) consists of one to several concentric laminae of endothelial cells; it encases nerve fascicles and eventually individual nerve fibers and terminals. The endothelial cells are extremely thin and fitted together smoothly by overlap and dove-tailing of their border zones. The cell contacts are formed by continuous zonulae occludentes, often reinforced by maculae adhaerentes, and in depth they comprise 3–15 strands with an average of 5–6 strands per junction. The membranes of endothelial cells are studded with attachment sites and stomata of plasmalemmal vesicles suggesting a high level of pinocytotic activity. This phenomenon is by no means restricted to the external laminae of the endothelial sheath. Each endothelial lamina is vested with basement membranes on both (epineural and endoneural) sides, and the spaces between laminae contain a few collagen fibers and fibroblasts. Occasionally, punctate tight junctions are seen between laminae. Cytological evidence supports the hypothesis that the perineural endothelium provides a relatively tight and highly selective barrier separating the peripheral nerves from surrounding tissue and its extracellular fluid spaces. This effect is achieved on the one hand by the sealing of pericellular spaces and on the other hand by a membrane controlled transcellular transport mechanism (pinocytosis), both of which are enhanced by their serial arrangement.Dedicated to Professor Wolfgang Bargmann, Kiel, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.The technical assistance of Dr. F. Dreyer, Mr. D. Savini, Miss H. Claassen and Miss R. Emch is gratefully acknowledged.Financial support was received by the following institutions: Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research, grants Nrs. 3.368.0.74, 3.774.72, 3.259.74, 3.045.73. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Sonderforschungsbereich 38, Projekt N). The Dr. Eric Slack-Gyr Stiftung in Zürich and the Hartmann-Müller Stiftung for Medical Research in Zürich.