Connections between the posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus and the parietal and occipital areas of the cerebral hemispheres in the cat

A light optic and electron microscopic investigation on distribution of fibers from the thalamic posterolateral nucleus has been performed in the cat cerebral cortex. The fibers studied are revealed in the fields 7, 19 and 18. In the field 7 they are most numerous, comparatively seldom they are found in the field 19 and still more seldom--in the field 18. In the fields 7 and 19 identical peculiarities on distribution and termination of the fibers are noted: they spread across the whole cortex and end in all the layers with a predominant concentration in the layers III and IV. Most of the fibers make contacts on small dendritic branches and spines. In the field 18 the fibers are mainly limited by the medial layers and terminate predominantly on small, middle-sized dendritic branches, and comparatively rare--on the spines.     

From the light to the darkness: thriving at the light extremes in the oceans

Light-acclimation processes are central to allowing photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems to span from high light conditions, that are 10-fold higher than the light levels required to saturate photosynthesis, to the deep sea with extremely low light levels. In dim light systems, nutrient levels are often high, and cells maximize the absorption of light by increasing the cellular pool of pigments. The upper limits of light absorption are constrained by the package effect, which ultimately restricts the benefit of the light absorption associated with an increase in cellular pigmentation, thus decreasing the cost/benefit ratio relative to the metabolic cost of manufacturing cellular light-harvesting pigments. At extremely low light levels in the deep sea, chloroplasts are sequestered in numerous organisms; however, these species are not obligate autotrophs and supplement a heterotrophic/mixotrophic existence with opportunistic autotrophy. While low light acclimation is based on maximizing light absorption, photosynthetic systems under high light, in addition to decreased light-harvesting cross sections, rely on energy-dissipation processes to avoid light-induced damage to the photosynthetic apparatus and other free radical susceptible cell structures. Dissipation of excess light energy represents the largest sink of the absorbed light in high light environments; however, these processes remain largely unstudied and are rarely quantified. Cells supplement their energy-dissipation processes through increasing the capacity to remove high-light-generated radicals and/or inducing vertical movement. Improved understanding of strategies remains central for the understanding of algal distributions in nature and has broad industrial implications.     

Ultrastructure of the respiratory epithelium in the lungs of the tortoise,Testudo graeca

The respiratory epithelium in the lungs of the tortoise (Testudo graeca) has been studied by electron microscopy. The epithelium consists of a mosaic of two different cell types (here called "pneumonocytes"). Type I pneumonocytes are roughly squamous and possess attenuated flanges of cytoplasm which extend over the septal capillaries. Localized cytoplasmic expansions are often present near the periphery of these flanges. Most of the organelles are concentrated in the perinuclear region; the most prominent of these are the mitochondria and osmiophilic inclusions. In contrast, type II pneumonocytes are cuboidal and are richly endowed with organelles including large Golgi complexes, extensive endoplasmic reticulum and numerous inclusion bodies. The morphological evidence suggests that type I pneumonocytes are involved in the secretion of osmiophilic material (presumed to be pulmonary surfactant) and in maintaining the integrity of the air-blood barrier. Type II pneumonocytes appear to be concerned solely with the production of surfactant.     

Ultrastructure of the synapses of the initial axonal segment of the pyramidal neuron

Ultrastructure of the proximal part of the axon in the neurons, identified according to a number of morphological signs as pyramidal, has been studied in the layer III of the cat cerebral hemisphere sensomotor cortex. In sections, tangential to the cortical surface, in the initial axonal segment, a submembranous osmophilic layer and fasciculi of microtubules are revealed. On the initial segment spines are found, they contain cysterns resembling by their structure the spine system of the dendritic spines. Axonal terminals revealed along the axonal distribution are in contact both with the axonal trunk and with the spines. Regarding the initial segment, they are presynaptic, contain oval synaptic vesicles and form symmetric axo-axonal synapses only. In transversal sections axonal terminals are detected, arranging on the surface of the initial segment mostly as single ones, in longitudinal sections they are seen as clusters. Analysing the author's data and those from the literature, a conclusion is made that in intact animals the synaptic contacts at the initial segment of the axon are the only form of axo-axonal synapses in the neocortex.     

Helix movements and the reconstruction of the haem pocket during the evolution of the cytochrome c family

Analysis of cytochromes c (tuna), c2 (Rhodospirillum rubrum), c550 (Paracoccus denitrificans) and c551 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) shows that they contain 48 residues identifiable as homologous from superposition of the structures. The other 34 to 64 residues are in loops that vary greatly in sequence, length and conformation, or in alpha-helices that are found in only some of the structures. Of the 48 homologous residues, 17 are in three segments which pack onto the haem faces. In all four structures, these segments have the same conformations, and the same locations relative to the haem. The other 31 residues are in three alpha-helices which are in contact with each other. These form the back and one side of the haem pocket. In cytochrome c551 the positions of the three alpha-helices have shifted and rotated, in comparison with cytochromes c and c2, by up to 5 A and 25 degrees relative to the haem. These shifts, facilitated by mutations at the helix-helix interfaces, are related to the reconstruction of the propionic acid side of the haem pocket described by Almassy & Dickerson (1978). Together these effects produce alternative structures for the haem pocket. This mechanism of adaptation to mutation contrasts with that observed in the globins. In the globins, mutations also produce changes in helix interfaces and shifts of packed helices, but in the globins these shifts are coupled to conserve the structure of the haem pocket.     

Individual variability in the structure of the walls of the principal trunks of the subcutaneous veins of the lower extremities of the human fetus

Certain regional peculiarities are noted in the development process of the human principle trunks of the subcutaneous veins during antenatal period. In the fetuses of all ages the wall thickness of the subcutaneous veins is the greatest in the femur, and the middle tunic is better developed in the shin. The vein structure depends on the type of architectonics: at the magistral type (86%) the walls in the large and minor subcutaneous veins are thick with well developed smooth myocytes and connective tissue fibers; at the reticulate type (14%) the walls are thin, their elements are poorly developed. When there is mentioned varicosity of the lower extremity veins in the parents' anamnesis, in fetuses (57%) all the tunics in the venous wall develop more poorly, there is retardation in formation of smooth myocytes and in maturation of collagen fibers. This results in less amount of contractile structures in the middle tunic and optic density of collagen is less manifected.     

Corticotrophic cells in the rostral zone of the pars intermedia and in the adjacent neurohypophysis of the rat and mouse

Summary In the mouse, the rostral zone of the pars intermedia is almost exclusively composed of typical corticotrophic cells. They are located around and even within the neural stalk, at the level of transition between stalk and neural lobe. In the rat, the corticotrophic cells of the rostral zone are found in scattered islets among the MSH producing cells, and also in the neural lobe. In both the rat and mouse, these cells are in direct contact with various types of nerve terminals. Synaptoid contacts with aminergic and neurosecretory nerve fibers are observed. Furthermore they are also closely related to the hypophysial portal vessels. Following adrenalectomy, the cells located in the neurohypophysis always react more intensely than tose in the rostral zone. The functional significance of these corticotrophic cells which are subject to both humoral and neural regulation remains as yet hypothetical. Their participation in neurogenic stress response seems probable.     

Demonstration of the heterogeneity of the mast cell population on the basis of the mucopolysaccharide content.

From the aspect of its mucopolysaccharide content the mast cell population is not homogeneous. The pulmonary and heart muscle mast cells of the rat are alcian blue positive, the mast cells of the thyroid gland, lymph nodes, subcutaneous connective tissue, mesentery and peripheral nerve are safranin positive, whereas among the mast cells of the peritoneal cavity and the thymus there are both alcian blue and saffranin positive forms. The least acid mucopolysaccharides are in the mast cells of the peritoneal fluid, the mesentery and the lungs, whereas the most acid ones are in the mast cells of the lymph nodes, the subcutaneous connective tissue and the thyroid gland. There is a considerable difference between the two last mentioned organs. The mast cells of the subcutaneous connective tissue are end-product cells without amine or precursor turnover, whereas the mast cells of the thyroid gland incorporate and deliver amines, which may participate in the regulation of the host gland.     

Vortical flow in the utricle and the ampulla: a computational study on the fluid dynamics of the vestibular system

We present a computational study of the fluid dynamics in healthy semicircular canals (SCCs) and the utricle. The SCCs are the primary sensors for angular velocity and are located in the vestibular part of the inner ear. The SCCs are connected to the utricle that hosts the utricular macula, a sensor for linear acceleration. The transduction of angular motion is triggered by the motion of a fluid called endolymph and by the interaction of this fluid with the sensory structures of the SCC. In our computations, we observe a vortical flow in the utricle and in the ampulla (the enlarged terminal part of the SCCs) which can lead to flow velocities in the utricle that are even higher than those in the SCCs. This is a fundamentally new result which is in contrast to the common belief that the fluid velocities in the utricle are negligible from a physiological point of view. Moreover, we show that the wall shear stresses in the utricle and the ampulla are maximized at the positions of the sensory epithelia. Possible physiological and clinical implications are discussed.     

The variances of the distributions of the combinations of the sexes within mammalian litters: Notes to mark the centenary of the problem

It is 100 years since Gini noted that in some samples of litters of mice and rabbits, the variances of the distributions of the combinations of the sexes are sub-binomial. In other words, in contrast with binomial expectation, there are too many litters in which the sexes are equally balanced, and there are too few unisexual litters. In the intervening years, this finding has been replicated in a number of further species, but no explanation has become established. Potential explanations are reviewed here, and it is suggested that the most likely cause is that, at the time of formation of the zygotes, p, the probability that a zygote will be male, varies from one zygote to another within litters, thus constituting an example of Poisson variation. And it is a standard result in probability theory that such variation causes sub-binomial variance.     

The ultrastructure of the sinuatrial ring bundle and of the caudal extension of the sinus node in the right atrium of the rabbit heart

Summary The cells of the sinuatrial ring bundle are smaller than the ordinary myocardial cells; they have a regular outline and a large content of myofibrils exhibiting distinct H-bands and M-lines. Rudimentary T-tubules are found. The cells are connected by frequent nexus junctions, desmosomes and regions of interfibrillar contact, both on the well developed intercalated discs and at the periphery of the cells.The cells in the cauda of the sinus node, which extends alongside the crista terminalis together with the right branch of the sinuatrial ring bundle, are irregularly outlined and have a highly variable diameter (1–10 m). They occur in clusters of closely packed cells. The content of myofibrils is sparse and the fibrils exhibit no M-lines and only weak H-bands. No T-tubules are found. The cells are not connected by intercalated discs and no nexus junctions are found.Both tissues contain unmyelinated nerves and nerve fibres. Varicosities with mitochondria and vesicles are found in close apposition to the muscle cells.     

On the structure of the iron-sulfur complex in the two-iron ferredoxins

Recent spectroscopic and magnetic susceptibility studies of the iron center in the two-iron ferredoxins provide criteria which any model for the iron-sulfur complex in these proteins must satisfy. These criteria are most stringent for parsley and spinach ferredoxin: the reduced proteins contain a high-spin ferric atom antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled (presumably via sulfide bridging ligands) to a high-spin ferrous atom. In the oxidized proteins the iron atoms are antiferromagnetically spin-coupled, high-spin ferric atoms. Arguments are given to substantiate the claim that the ferrous atom in the reduced protein is ligated by four sulfur atoms in a distorted tetrahedral configuration: two are the bridging sulfides, two are cysteinyl sulfurs. A treatment of proton contact shifts based upon the above model is pertinent to proton magnetic resonance data already available and provides a means to identify directly the ligands at both iron atoms via further PMR experiments.     

Superantigens: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Increasing evidence suggests that superantigens play a role in immune-mediated diseases. Superantigens are potent activators of CD4+ T cells, causing rapid and massive proliferation of cells and cytokine production. This characteristic of superantigens can be exploited in diseases where strong immunologic responses are required, such as in the B16F10 animal model of melanoma. Superantigen administration is able to significantly enhance ineffective anti-tumor immune responses, resulting in potent and long-lived protective anti-tumor immunity. However, superantigens are more well-known for the role they play in diseases. Studies using an animal model for neurologic demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis show that superantigens can induce severe relapses and activate autoreactive T cells not involved in the initial bout of disease. This may also involve epitope spreading of disease. Superantigens have also been implicated in acute diseases such as food poisoning and TSS, and in chronic diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Viral superantigens are also involved in the disease process, including superantigens derived from human immunodeficiency virus and mouse mammary tumor virus. Finally, immunotherapies that ameliorate the role played by superantigens in disease are discussed.     

Requirements for the insertion of the Sindbis envelope glycoproteins into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Previous work has shown that the Sindbis structural proteins, core, the internal protein, and PE2 and E1, the integral membrane glycoproteins are synthesized as a polyprotein from a 26S mRNA; core PE2 and E1 are derived by proteolytic cleavage of a nascent chain. Newly synthesized core protein remains on the cytoplasmic side of the endoplasmic reticulum while newly synthesized PE2 and E1 are inserted into the lipid bilayer, presumably via their amino-termini. PE2 and E1 are glycosylated as nascent chains. Here, we examine a temperature-sensitive mutant of Sindbis virus which fails to cleave the structural proteins, resulting in the production of a polyprotein of 130,000 mol wt in which the amino-termini of PE2 and E1 are internal to the protein. Although the envelope sequences are present in this protein, it is not inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum bilayer, but remains on the cytoplasmic side as does the core protein in cells infected with wild-type Sindbis virus. We have also examined the fate of PE2 and E1 in cells treated with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of glycosylation. Unglycosylated PE2 and E1 are inserted normally into the lipid bilayer as are the glycosylated proteins. These results are consistent with the notion that a specific amino-terminal sequence is required for the proper insertion of membrane proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum bilayer, but that glycosylation is not required for this insertion.     

Ultrastructure of synapses in the nucleus of the trapezoid body of the bat]

The subsynaptic structure of the synapses in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body was studied in the bat Myotis oxygnatus. The synaptic endings in the nucleus are represented by large-cup-shaped and small loop-shaped terminations. The cup-shaped terminations are formed of large branches originating from a thick myelinated fibre after loss of myelin from it. Each branch forms a series of contacts alternating with vast enlargements of extracellular space, on the body of the cell and its processes. Large branches are filled with synaptic vesicles, neurofilaments and neurotubules, mitochondria; all these components are distributed rather regularly along the branch diameter. In fine branches of the cup the synaptic vesicles are the main and often the only component. The pattern of the cup branch changes as the distance from the main fibre increases, namely the amount of neurofilaments and neurotubules diminishes up to their disappearance, while the amount and the density of synaptic vesicles increases. The small loop-shaped treminals are different from the cup-shaped ones by the composition of the synaptic vesicles and the structure of the contact zone. In addition to agranular vesicles there are also granular ones. Both types of terminations--cup-shaped and loop-shaped ones -- are found both on the bodies and dendrites. On distal portions of dendrites the terminations are disposed in nests.     

On the nature of the horny scales of the pangolin

The pangolin scale is a horny derivative of the epidermis. It is complex in structure and is divisible into three distinct regions. The dorsal plate forms approximately one-sixth of the scale thickness. It is composed of flattened solid keratinized cells without basophilic nuclear remnants. This region tends to fray easily. The dorsal plate contains bound phospholipids and sulphydryl groups but is weak in disulphide bonds.
The bulk of the scale is made up of the intermediate plate formed of less flattened cells without basophilic nuclei. This region is rich in disulphide bonds but contains no appreciable bound phospholipids or sulphydryl groups.
The ventral plate is only a few cells thick and is rich in bound phospholipids, which also occur in the underlying scale bed epidermis.
These three regions of the scale are formed from separate epidermal germinal areas which do not develop a granular layer. Keratohyalin granules are, however, formed in the epidermis between the scales.
It is suggested on the basis of histological structure and dishribution of chemical constituents that pangolin scales are probably homologous with primate nails.
Evidence against the views that they are homologous with reptilian scales or are derived from compressed hairs is presented.     

Ultrastructure of the stria vascularis of the auricular labyrinth of the rabbit]

In the composition of the stria vascularis of the rabbit cochlea there are three types of cells: edging, medial and basal cells. The structure of these cells, their disposition and interrelationships within the stria vascularis are described. The nodes of the basal membrane whose ramification covers long mitichondria concentrating at the basement of edging cells are found in the structure of capillaries of the cochlea stria vascularis. It may be supposed that this powerful mitochondrial apparatus refers to the capillary system of the stria vascularis and represents a hypertrophic mitochondrial apparatus of pericytes. The capillaries of the stria vascularis are distributed mainly in longitudinal direction while the capillaries disposed transversely which are likely to be anastomoses were also found.     

On the path to understanding the nature of cancer

In this essay crucial problems of the origin of cancer and the development of malignancy are discussed. The problem of precancer and three ways leading to malignancy are considered: induction of tumor precursors, accumulation of genetic traits common for tumor growth, and the role of inflammation in tumor induction. The nature of viral oncogenes and modes of their action are described in the context of their origin as a component of the viral genome. Oncogenes of RNA-containing viruses and DNA-containing tumorigenic viruses are described together with cellular protooncogenes, which are progenitors of RNA-containing viral oncogenes. Hematological malignancies are described as an intermediate form between simple tumors induced by a single oncogene and more complicated epithelial tumors. The roles of tumor suppressor genes and the interaction of several oncogenes in the formation of carcinomas and also the role of progression in tumor evolution are discussed.     

Variants of the position of the jugular trunks

Topographo-anatomical position of the jugular trunks has been investigated in 30 human corpses. Certain differences in structure of the left and right jugular trunks are revealed, their peculiarities in persons with different habitus type are noted. The peculiarities mentioned are expedient to take into account in surgical practice, when pathways of lymphatic drenage are cut with prophylactic aims in patients suffering from inflammatory processes in the maxillofacial area.