An improved method for studying grass leaf epidermis

Leaf epidermis of grasses is elaborate and important in the systematics of the Poaceae at subfamily and genus level. Most available techniques used in preparing leaf epidermis for microscopic studies are time-consuming and often produce preparations inadequate for studying histological detail. A combination of the hand scraping and maceration methods with modifications is proposed in this paper to prepare epidermal peels comparatively rapidly. One epidermal layer was scraped off and the mesophyll tissue removed from the epidermis to be studied by maceration in HNO3. The recovered epidermal peel was neutralized in NaOH and stained with malachite green or safranin O. Preparations made by this technique are suitable for studies of epidermal features, measurements of special structures and determinations of trichome indices. This method has been used in a study investigating intraspecific variation in southern African pasture grasses.     

简便有效的叶表皮离析方法——过氧化氢-醋酸法

在长期叶表皮制片过程中发现,过氧化氢-醋酸离析法简便实用,对蕨类植物小型叶和大型叶、裸子植物鳞形叶、钻形叶、针形叶、条形或带形叶及被子植物宽大的叶片均能适用。尤其重要的是,过氧化氢-醋酸离析法不会破坏叶表皮细胞的结构,有利于精确观察叶表皮形态特征,是一种比较理想的叶表皮离析方法。     

番荔枝科植物叶的比较解剖学

利用扫描电镜、叶表皮离析法和石蜡切片法研究了番荔枝科93种2变种植物叶片的形态结构.结果表明番荔枝科植物叶片形态结构具有较大相似性,如叶表面均具有表皮毛,表皮细胞具有晶体,气孔器为平列型,具2～6个副卫细胞,仅分布在远轴面,普遍具有败育气孔器,叶肉组织中普遍含有油细胞等,但表皮毛的类型,表皮细胞的形状,表皮细胞内晶体的类型和形态,叶肉组织的结构具有明显的属间和种间差异.     

Clonal analysis of epidermal patterning during maize leaf development

In plants, specialized epidermal cells are arranged in semiordered patterns. In grasses such as maize, stomata and other specialized cell types differentiate in linear patterns within the leaf epidermis. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed to direct patterns of epidermal cell differentiation. One class of models proposes that patterns of cellular differentiation depend on the lineage relationships among epidermal cells. Another class of models proposes that epidermal patterning depends on positional information rather than lineage relationships. In the dicot epidermis, cell lineage is an important factor in the patterning of stomata, but not trichomes. In this study, the role of cell lineage in the linear patterning of stomata and bulliform cells in the maize leaf epidermis is investigated. Clones of epidermal cells in juvenile leaves were marked by excision of dSpm from gl15-m and in adult leaves by excision of Ds2 from bz2-m. These clones were analyzed in relation to patterns of stomata and bulliform cells, testing specific predictions of clonal origin hypotheses for the patterning of these cell types. We found that the great majority of clones analyzed failed to satisfy these predictions. Our results clearly show that lineage does not account for the linear patterning of stomata and bulliform cells, implying that positional information must direct the differentiation patterns of these cell types in maize.     

次氯酸钠离析法观测甘蓝叶片脉序的处理条件优化筛选

次氯酸钠（NaClO）离析法主要用于植物叶片表皮的观测,在研究过程中发现该法也可用于叶片脉序的观测。以甘蓝（Brassica oleracea var.capitata）为实验材料,采用二次正交设计方法对水煮时间、NaOH浓度、NaOH处理时间、NaClO浓度、NaClO处理温度和处理时间等各种处理条件进行优化筛选,以期得到适合于甘蓝叶片脉序观测的最佳处理条件组合。实验结果表明,新鲜甘蓝叶片水煮3分钟,10%的NaOH溶液60°C水浴处理2.5小时,3%的NaClO溶液40°C水浴离析2小时,叶片脉序的观测效果最佳。     

9种榆科植物叶表皮结构特征研究

利用叶表皮离析法观察了榆科6属9种植物叶片的表皮结构。结果表明,榆科植物叶片气孔器仅分布在远轴面,不规则型,不具副卫细胞;叶片毛状体主要有腺毛和非腺毛两种类型,腺毛由基细胞、柄细胞和膨大的顶细胞构成,非腺毛均由单细胞发育而来,基部具或不具钟乳体,多数非腺毛顶部发育成长锥状,少数非腺毛顶部极短呈喙状。根据气孔器的类型和分布位置,尤其是表皮毛的基本结构和发育类型等特征,不支持将广义榆科分为两个独立科的观点。但榆科这9种植物叶表皮特征具有属间或种间差异,有一定的分类学价值。     

次氯酸钠离析法观测甘蓝叶片脉序的处理条件优化筛选

次氯酸钠(NaClO)离析法主要用于植物叶片表皮的观测, 在研究过程中发现该法也可用于叶片脉序的观测。以甘蓝(Brassica oleracea var. capitata)为实验材料, 采用二次正交设计方法对水煮时间、NaOH浓度、NaOH处理时间、NaClO浓度、NaClO处理温度和处理时间等各种处理条件进行优化筛选, 以期得到适合于甘蓝叶片脉序观测的最佳处理条件组合。实验结果表明, 新鲜甘蓝叶片水煮3分钟, 10%的NaOH溶液60°C水浴处理2.5小时, 3%的NaClO溶液40°C水浴离析2小时,叶片脉序的观测效果最佳。     

COMPARATIVE ENZYME DIFFERENTIATION IN GRASS ROOTS. I. ACID PHOSPHATASE

Avers , Charlotte J. (U. Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.), and Robert B. Grimm . Comparative enzyme differentiation in grass roots. I. Acid phosphatase. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(3) : 190-193. Illus. 1959.—There is a correlation between the pattern of acid phosphatase activity and the particular morphogenetic pattern in the root epidermis of festucoid and panicoid grasses. Four festucoid species all showed intensified enzyme activity in trichoblasts and loss of activity in hairless cell initials prior to the maturation of these cells. The 3 panicoid grasses showed no phosphatase-inactive cells during epidermal development. The festucoid epidermis contains alternating long and short cells which differentiate into hairless and hair cells respectively. The panicoid type shows no such cellular pattern and any epidermal cell seems capable of producing a root hair. Treatment of Phleum roots with 10^-4 M coumarin caused a foreshortening of the growth zones and a concurrent apical shift in differential acid phosphatase activity. This response was interpreted as further evidence of a direct correlation between the morphogenetic and enzymatic differentiations in the root epidermis.     

Sensory transduction and the mammalian epidermis

This paper constitutes, in its main intent, an introduction to the mammalian epidermis as a surface for biosensor applications. In particular, the structure and function of the epidermis of the newborn rat are examined as a model for studies of the human state. Data are presented illustrating an anisotropic organization of the dorsal surface of the neonatal rodent with regard to line of tension and thermal gradients. The dependence of the mechanical properties of the epidermis upon calcium is examined by means of an in-vitro assay of epidermal retraction. The potential role of keratin tonofilaments as piezoelectric and pyroelectric elements in the epidermis is introduced and the spatial alignment of these macromolecular arrays is demonstrated to be a function of physiological tensions. These findings are discussed in the context of noninvasive epidermal sensors utilized to understand mechanisms of sensory development and physiological regulation. Optoelectronic (infrared) imaging of the dorsal temperature field and the alteration in this field by treatment with epidermal growth factor are presented as examples of this methodologic approach. It is concluded that a detailed examination of the material and physical properties of mammalian epidermis is a reasonable goal of biosensor development and research. Hypothetically, such studies may reveal important molecular and cellular mechanisms by which sensory data are transmitted or transduced at the organism-environmental interface.     

Enhancement of bleomycin-mediated DNA damage by epidermal microsomal enzymes

The role of epidermal microsomal enzymes in catalyzing bleomycin-mediated chain breakage in calf-thymus DNA and in DNA isolated from neonatal rat epidermis was studied. Aerobic incubation of bleomycin with epidermal microsomes, epidermal or calf-thymus DNA and NADPH caused substantial chain breakage of the DNA which was dependent upon concentrations of drug, microsomal protein and NADPH. The reactive oxygen scavenger superoxide dismutase, the metal chelator EDTA, and cytochrome c each inhibited the enzyme-mediated chain breakage reaction. Scavengers of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, including catalase and benzoate and inhibitors of microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases such as 1-benzylimidazole, metyrapone and alpha-naphthoflavone, had no inhibitory effects on bleomycin-mediated DNA chain breakage. In contrast, ascorbic acid significantly enhanced DNA damage by bleomycin. These studies indicate that mammalian epidermis possesses membrane-bound enzyme activity capable of enhancing bleomycin-mediated chain breakage of DNA and that oxidation/reduction of adventitious iron and generation of reactive oxygen participate in the reaction. These responses in the epidermis could directly relate to the mechanism of action of intralesional injections of bleomycin which are used quite effectively in the management of recalcitrant human warts. Either epidermal or wart virus DNA or both could be targets for this pharmacologic effect of the drug which is augmented by epidermal microsomal enzymes.     

Clearing, cuticle removal, and staining for the fertile bracts (lemmas and paleas) of grass anthoecia.

The epidermis of the bracts enclosing the flower of grasses contains epidermal cell patterns which are indicative of phylogenetic and systematic relationships among taxa. Treating the heavily cutinized anthoecial bracts (fertile lemma and palea) with 10% NaOH results in the removal of sufficient cuticle to allow examination of the cells of the epidermis. After clearing and removal of the cuticle, the bracts are bleached, washed, dehydrated, and if studied by light microscopy, stained in 2% chlorazol black E and mounted in Diaphane; or, if studied by scanning electron microscopy, dried by the critical-point method and either left uncoated or coated with a film of various conductive metals.     

Clearing, Cuticle Removal, And Staining For The Fertile Bracts (Lemmas And Paleas) Of Grass Anthoecia

The epidermis of the bracts enclosing the flower of grasses contains epidermal cell patterns which are indicative of phylogenetic and systematic relationships among taxa. Treating the heavily cutinized anthoecial bracts (fertile lemma and palea) with 10% NaOH results in the removal of sufficient cuticle to allow examination of the cells of the epidermis. After clearing and removal of the cuticle, the bracts are bleached, washed, dehydrated, and if studied by light microscopy, stained in 2 % chlorazol black E and mounted in Diaphane; or, if studied by scanning electron microscopy, dried by the critical-point method and either left uncoated or coated with a film of various conductive metals.     

Basal Keratinocytes Contribute to All Strata of the Adult Zebrafish Epidermis

The epidermis of terrestrial vertebrates is a stratified epithelium and forms an essential protective barrier. It is continually renewed, with dead corneocytes shed from the surface and replaced from a basal keratinocyte stem cell population. Whilst mouse is the prime model system used for epidermal studies, there is increasing employment of the zebrafish to analyse epidermis development and homeostasis, however the architecture and ontogeny of the epidermis in this system are incompletely described. In particular, it is unclear if adult zebrafish epidermis is derived entirely from the basal epidermal stem cell layer, as in the mouse, or if the most superficial keratinocyte layer is a remnant of the embryonic periderm. Furthermore, a relative paucity of cellular markers and genetic reagents to label and manipulate the basal epidermal stem cell compartment has hampered research. Here we show that the type I keratin, krtt1c19e, is a suitable marker of the basal epidermal layer and identify a krtt1c19e promoter fragment able to drive strong and specific expression in this cell type. Use of this promoter to express an inducible Cre recombinase allowed permanent labelling of basal cells during embryogenesis, and demonstrated that these cells do indeed generate keratinocytes of all strata in the adult epidermis. Further deployment of the Cre-Lox system highlighted the transient nature of the embryonic periderm. We thus show that the epidermis of adult zebrafish, as in the mouse, derives from basal stem cells, further expanding the similarities of epidermal ontogeny across vertebrates. Future use of this promoter will assist genetic analysis of basal keratinocyte biology in zebrafish.     

安徽产两种山罗花属植物及其居群叶的微形态比较

利用离析法、扫描电镜和石蜡切片法对安徽产2种3居群山罗花属植物的叶进行了微形态比较研究,结果表明：该属植物叶表皮细胞形状为不规则形,垂周壁呈波状、深波状至重波状;表皮细胞内含叶绿体;角质层具条状纹饰;表皮上有表皮毛和腺毛分布,扫描电镜下表皮毛具瘤状突起的纹饰;栅栏组织只有1层,排列比较疏松,海绵组织有发达的胞间隙;气孔器多为无规则型,极少数仅有一个副卫细胞,仅分布于下表皮,扫描电镜下气孔外拱盖内缘近光滑或浅波状。2种植物在垂周壁式样、表皮毛密度、气孔器长宽比、栅栏组织和海绵组织的厚度比以及中脉的结构特征等具有明显的差异,而山罗花3居群间的差异不明显。     

Freeze-crack technique to study epidermal development in zebrafish using differential interference contrast microscopy and fluorescent markers

The zebrafish is a model organism used to study organogenesis during vertebrate development; however epidermis development has been the focus of only a few studies. Thus, new methodologies to highlight and study epidermal cells could be valuable to deepen our understanding of skin development. Large-scale mutagenic screenings have already identified many zebrafish mutants, which are models for human developmental diseases, however only four epidermis mutants have been isolated. Novel screening techniques are needed to improve this collection. We designed and tested a novel freeze-crack technique to obtain, fix, and stain epidermal cells from 5 days postfertilization zebrafish larvae. Using commercially available fluorescent markers and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, we were able to label and highlight subcellular structures such as microridges, cell boundaries, nuclei, and the Golgi complex from epidermis cells. Acquiring and processing epidermis samples from 15 to 75 larvae takes about 2-4 h, respectively. Therefore this method could be used as part of large-scale screenings. In addition, we present a more extensive protocol for antibody staining, which could be employed for more specific studies.     

Suprabasal desmoglein 3 expression in the epidermis of transgenic mice results in hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation

The desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) and desmocollin 1 (Dsc1) isoforms of the desmosomal cadherins are expressed in the suprabasal layers of epidermis, whereas Dsg3 and Dsc3 are more strongly expressed basally. This differential expression may have a function in epidermal morphogenesis and/or may regulate the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. To test this hypothesis, we changed the expression pattern by overexpressing human Dsg3 under the control of the keratin 1 (K1) promoter in the suprabasal epidermis of transgenic mice. From around 12 weeks of age, the mice exhibited flaking of the skin accompanied by epidermal pustules and thinning of the hair. Histological analysis of affected areas revealed acanthosis, hypergranulosis, hyperkeratosis, localized parakeratosis, and abnormal hair follicles. This phenotype has some features in common with human ichthyosiform diseases. Electron microscopy revealed a mild epidermal spongiosis. Suprabasally, desmosomes showed incorporation of the exogenous protein by immunogold labeling but were normal in structure. The epidermis was hyperproliferative, and differentiation was abnormal, demonstrated by expression of K14 in the suprabasal layer, restriction of K1, and strong induction of K6 and K16. The changes resembled those found in previous studies in which growth factors, cytokines, and integrins had been overexpressed in epidermis. Thus our data strongly support the view that Dsg3 contributes to the regulation of epidermal differentiation. Our results contrast markedly with those recently obtained by expressing Dsg3 in epidermis under the involucrin promoter. Possible reasons for this difference are considered in this paper.     

Are some plant life forms more effective than others in screening out ultraviolet-B radiation?

Summary The unprecedented rate of depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer will likely lead to appreciable increases in the amount of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280–320 nm) reaching the earth's surface. In plants, photosynthetic reactions and nucleic acids in the mesophyll of leaves are deleteriously affected by UV-B. We used a fiber-optic microprobe to make direct measurements of the amount of UV-B reaching these potential targets in the mesophyll of intact foliage. A comparison of foliage from a diverse group of Rocky Mountain plants enabled us to assess whether the foliage of some plant life forms appeared more effective at screening UV-B radiation. The leaf epidermis of herbaceous dicots was particularly ineffective at attenuating UV-B; epidermal transmittance ranged from 18–41% and UV-B reached 40–145 m into the mesophyll or photosynthetic tissue. In contrast to herbaceous dicots, the epidermis of 1-year old conifer needles attenuated essentially all incident UV-B and virtually none of this radiation reached the mesophyll. Although the epidermal layer was appreciably thinner in older needles (7 y) at high elevations (Krumholtz), essentially all incident UV-B was attenuated by the epidermis in these needles. The same epidermal screening effectiveness was observed after removal of epicuticular waxes with chloroform. Leaves of woody dicots and grasses appeared intermediate between herbaceous dicots and conifers in their UV-B screening abilities with 3–12% of the incident UV-B reaching the mesophyll. These large differences in UV-B screening effectiveness suggest that certain plant life forms may be more predisposed than others to meet the challenge of higher UV-B levels resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion.     

Tgm2/Gh, Gbx1 and TGF-beta are involved in retinoic acid-induced transdifferentiation from epidermis to mucosal epithelium

We previously demonstrated that retinoic acid (RA) induces epidermis to transdifferentiate to mucosal epithelium with goblet cells in chick embryonic cultured skin. To characterize the molecular mechanism of this transdifferentiation process, we used rat embryonic cultured skin and immunohistochemistry to confirm that RA-induced epidermal transdifferentiation accompanies the expression of markers of esophagus epithelium. Because Gbx1, TG2/Gh (transglutaminase2) and TGF-beta2 are reported individually to be induced by RA in cultures of chick embryonic skin, mouse epidermal cells and human hair follicles respectively, here, we investigated whether cooperative interplay of Gbx1, TG2/Gh and TGF-beta2 is required for the transdifferentiation of epidermal cells to mucosal cells. We have shown that expression of Gbx1, TG2/Gh and TGF-beta proteins were all upregulated in RA-induced transdifferentiated skin and that the former two were expressed in the epidermis, while TGF-beta was expressed in the dermis. Inhibitors of the TGF-beta signal pathway partially inhibited transdifferentiation. Overexpression of both hTG2/Gh and mGbx1 together in the epidermis by electroporation resulted in cuboidal cells in the upper cell layers of the epidermis without keratinized layers, although epidermal keratinization was observed in skin by overexpression of either of them. Labeling DNA with BrdU indicated that RA directly transdifferentiated transient amplifying epidermal cells, not stem cells, to mucosal cells. This study showed that coexpression of TG/2 and Gbx1 in the epidermis was required for esophagus-like mucosal transdifferentiation, and that increase in TGF-beta2 expression by RA in the dermis was essential to induce transdifferentiation through epithelial-mesenchymal interaction.