ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF THE VITELLINE BODY OF SOME SPIDER OOCYTES

The structure of the vitelline nuclei of Lycosidae and Thomisidae was described as follows: Vitelline nuclei are constituted of two parts: (a) a peripheral layer (vitelline body cortex), and (b) a central core. The vitelline body cortex is demonstrated to be formed by many cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum among which mitochondria and Golgi elements are intermingled. The central core is made up mainly of a special type of body described under the name of "capsulated body." Capsulated bodies comprise a capsular layer, limited by a membrane, and two central masses called "geminated masses," each one limited by a double membrane. Irregular masses of closely packed vesicles are found in some cases among the capsulated bodies and free vesicles are present in large numbers. The optical properties of the vitelline body cortex compared with the electron microscope findings lead us to the concept that this layer is a "composite body" according to Weiner's theory.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CAROTID BODY

An electron microscope investigation was made of the carotid body in the cat and the rabbit. In thin-walled blood vessels the endothelium was fenestrated. Larger vessels were surrounded by a layer of smooth muscle fibers. Among the numerous blood vessels lay groups of cells of two types covered by basement membranes. Aggregates of Type I cells were invested by Type II cells, though occasionally cytoplasmic extensions were covered by basement membrane only. Type I cells contained many electron-opaque cored vesicles (350 to 1900 A in diameter) resembling those in endocrine secretory cells. Type II cells covered nerve endings terminating on Type I cells and enclosed nerve fibers in much the same manner as Schwann cells. The nerve endings contained numerous microvesicles (~500 A in diameter), mitochondria, glycogen granules, and a few electron-opaque cored vesicles. Junctions between nerve endings and Type I cells were associated with regions of increased density in both intercellular spaces and the adjoining cytoplasm. Cilia of the 9 + 0 fibril pattern were observed in Type I and Type II cells and pericytes. Nonmyelinated nerve fibers, often containing microvesicles, mitochondria, and a few electron-opaque cored vesicles (650 to 1000 A in diameter) were present in Schwann cells, many of which were situated close to blood vessels Ganglion cells near the periphery of the gland, fibrocytes, and segments of unidentified cells were also seen. It was concluded that, according to present concepts of the structure of nerve endings, those endings related to Type I cells could be efferent or afferent.     

日本血吸虫卵黄培养细胞超微结构动态的研究

从超微结构水平研究日本血吸虫卵黄细胞培养的动态。在体外培养过程中,卵黄细胞对外界环境的改变比日本血吸虫的其它体细胞更加敏感。随着培养时间的延长,卵黄细胞发生不同程度的变性,成熟卵黄细胞比未成熟卵黄细胞发生变性。变性主要表现在核和胞质的电子密度降低;卵黄球相互融合,或卵黄球与膜之间的空隙逐步增大,最终卵黄球从中释放出来,变成裸露体;脂滴数目增多,体积增大;粗面内质网扩大和囊泡变,其上的核糖体脱颗粒等     

EFFECT OF LOCAL APPLICATION OF 1-METHYLADENINE ON THE SITE OF POLAR BODY FORMATION IN STARFISH OOCYTE*

Mechanism by which the site of polar body formation is determined in starfish oocytes was investigated in relation to the action of 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde). Local staining with Nile Blue of Asterina pectinifera oocytes revealed that there exists a prospective site of polar body formation (PSPBF) on the nearest surface to the position of germinal vesicle. The site of polar body formation was found to shift to some extent from PSPBF toward the area locally applied with 1-MeAde, suggesting that the actual site of polar body formation is not determined yet at the germinal vesicle stage. Oocytes whose germinal vesicles had been shifted by centrifugation from PSPBF to the opposite surface before the commencement of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) (less than 15 min after 1-MeAde treatment), failed to form polar bodies, whereas oocytes centrifuged after commencement of GVBD (20 min after 1-MeAde treatment) did form polar bodies where their fading germinal vesicles had reached by centrifugation. In the oocytes which failed to form polar bodies by centrifugation, an aster was observed near PSPBF of each oocyte. When inseminated, every oocyte treated with 1-MeAde developed normally irrespectively of the mode of polar body formation including the site and the occurrence, and the animal pole of every larva was derived from PSPBF.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ACACIA CORNIGERA L. BELTIAN BODY TISSUE

Beltian bodies of Acacia cornigera have evolved as multicellular structures which serve as food for protective ant colonies. At the ultrastructural level, Beltian body cells contain a large amount of protein and lipid that presumably contribute to the ant's nutrition. The non-soluble protein is aggregated into tubules of two size classes: one is present in both the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm, and has an individual tubule diam of 75 A, while another size class, located in the cytoplasm, has a diam of 280 A. These two classes of protein tubules aggregate into units that occupy a high percentage of a cortical cell's volume. Numerous lipid droplets are present in the cytoplasm, adding an energy source to the ant's diet. Each droplet is surrounded by a single layer of filaments, the molecular composition of which is unknown at this time. This study indicates that the evolutionary development of this tissue has produced a highly desirable food source for the inhabiting ants.     

THE PERMEABILITY OF THE AMPHIBIAN OOCYTE NUCLEUS, IN SITU

Ultralow temperature radioautography, suitable for the quantitative localization of diffusible solutes, was used to study the permeability of the nuclear envelope in the intact amphibian oocyte Sucrose-³H solutions were injected into mature oocytes, in volumes of 0 016–0 14% of that of the cell, and the subsequent movement of the solute was recorded. The resultant radioautographs show diffusion gradients in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and concentration gradients across the nuclear envelope Analysis of these gradients discloses that the nuclear envelope is as permeable as a comparable structure composed of cytoplasm, and is about 10⁸ times more permeable than the oocyte plasma membrane The diffusion coefficient of sucrose in cytoplasm is 2 x 10^-6 cm²/sec, or about one-third its diffusivity in pure water. This reduction can probably be accounted for by an effective lengthening of the diffusional path because of obstruction by cytoplasmic inclusions. The nuclear: cytoplasmic sucrose concentration ratio at diffusional equilibrium is about 3 05, or 1.6 times as great as expected from the water content of the two compartments This asymmetry is attributed to an unavailability of 36% of the cytoplasmic water as solvent Finally, sucrose entry into oocytes from a bathing solution was monitored by whole cell analysis and radioautography. These and the microinjection results are consistent with a model in which sucrose entry into the cell is entirely limited by the permeability of the plasma membrane. The results are inconsistent with cell models that hypothesize a short-circuit transport route from the extracellular compartment to the nucleus, and with models in which cytoplasmic diffusion is viewed as limiting the rate of solute permeation.     

河鲈锚首吸虫体壁的超微结构观察

寄生鳜鳃部的河鲈锚首吸虫的体壁由表皮合胞体、基板、环肌、纵肌和表皮细胞核周体所组成。合胞体顶部质膜起伏形成表皮的嵴纹,基部质膜折叠形成指状突起伸入到合胞体中。合胞体表面覆盖着一层糖萼。河鲈锚首吸虫的表皮中含有四类分泌体,即电子致密的分泌颗粒、中等电子致密的分泌颗粒、有膜包围的电子稀疏的分泌体和多囊体．可见分泌体和合胞体基质通过胞吐作用排到体外,未见吞饮小泡,推测表皮的主要功能在于分泌和渗透压调节而非营养吸收。在外侧头瓣的乳突状结构所在处,合胞层较薄,基板平滑,在实质组织中的一腔体样结构中可见囊状体、电子致密度各异的颗粒体、泡状体和电子致密的基质团,神经突起分布于腔体周围,这类乳突可能代表一类新的非纤毛感受器类型。     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF GLIOSOMES IN THE BRAINS OF AMPHIBIA

Small fragments of superficial neuropil and fragments of deeper layers from various regions of the brains of Xenopus laevis Daud. and Rana esculenta L. were fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide, embedded in Vestopal W or methacrylate, and studied with the electron microscope. The glial fibers and their meningeal end-feet contain numerous large mitochondrion-like dense bodies for which the term "gliosome" has been adopted. Gliosomes have a specific and constant structure characterized by the presence of a row of peripheral and circular canaliculi and an electron-opaque fibrous or finely granular matrix. Also, another less frequently found type of gliosome is present which contains regular lamellar structures. The gliosomes vary considerably in size and may be very large, up to 9 µ in length. Numerous and various intermediate forms between mitochondria and gliosomes can be seen. Gliosomes are largest and most numerous in the distal portions of the glial fibers and in the meningeal end-feet.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE BASAL BODY COMPLEX AND PUTATIVE VESTIGIAL FEEDING APPARATUS IN PHACUS PLEURONECTES (EUGLENOPHYCEAE)

Phacus pleuronectes (O. F. Müller) Dujardin is a phototrophic euglenoid with small discoid chloroplasts, a flat rigid body, and longitudinally arranged pellicular strips. The flagellar apparatus consisted of two basal bodies and three flagellar roots typical of many phototrophic euglenoids but also had a large striated fiber that connected the two basal bodies and associated with the ventral root. The three roots, in combination with the dorsal microtubular band, extended anteriorly and formed the major cytoskeletal elements supporting the reservoir membrane and ultimately the pellicle. A cytoplasmic pocket arose in the reservoir/canal transition region. It was supported by the ventral root and a C-shaped band of electron-opaque material that lined the cytoplasmic side of the pocket. A large striated fiber extended from this C-shaped band toward the reservoir membrane. The striated fibers in the basal apparatus and associated with the microtubule-reinforced pocket in P. pleuronecte s appear to be similar to those of the phagotrophic euglenoids.     

星豹蛛精子的超微结构和精子发生（蜘蛛目：狼蛛科）

报道星豹蛛(Pardosa astrigera)的精子发生过程和成熟精子的超微结构。研究表明,星豹蛛的精子发生有下列特征与其他蜘蛛的研究结果相同:1.染色质浓缩;2.精子的囊内形成;3.顶体泡出现,并有一直穿到核管的顶体丝;5.轴丝为9×2+3型;6.精子成熟时盘曲;7.精子在输精管内进行包装。同时,我们在研究中获得如下新的资料:1.在精原细胞、精子细胞和精巢外层出现上皮细胞;2.中心粒在精子发生的前期为平行排列,到后期变为垂直排列;3.微管环在前期见于核膜外,随后消失;后期见于细胞膜下,最后消失;4.没有线粒体和鞭毛通道,但在胞质中有成群的电子致密圆泡和一膜状结构;5.顶体泡锥形,部分内陷到核内;6.精子包装为闭精武。上述研究结果为今后深入探讨蜘蛛目的系统发生提供了参考资料。     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE ENAMEL IN THE GIANT PANDA OF PLEISTOCENE

<正> Enamel ultrastructures in the molar teeth of the giant panda, including Ailuropoda microta of the Early Pleistocene, Ailuropoda melanoleuca bacont of the Middle and Late Pleistocene and a living form, Ailuropoda rnelanoleuca, have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Transverse and longitudinal sections of enamel were made in order co evaluate shape, size and arrangement of the prisms. The sections were etched then with 0.074 M H_3PO_4 for 30-60 sec. Our investigations have shown certain features of the enamel which allow us to recognize differences among Ailuropoda on the basis of examination of large areas of the enamel. The results are summarized below.     

RNA SYNTHESIS IN THE MOUSE OOCYTE

RNA synthesis in the oocyte and granulosa cell nuclei of growing follicles has been studied in the mouse ovary. The RNA precursor [³H]uridine was administered intraperitoneally to adult mice and the amount of label incorporated into ovarian RNA was quantitated autoradiographically using grain-counting procedures. Uridine incorporation into the nucleus is low in oocytes of small, resting follicles but increases during follicle growth and reaches a peak prior to the beginning of antrum formation. Thereafter uptake rapidly declines and is very low in the oocytes of maturing follicles. Uridine incorporation into granulosa cell nuclei, in contrast to that found in the oocyte, increases gradually during most of the period of follicle growth. Qualitative studies of the activity of endogenous, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases have also been made in fixed oocytes isolated from follicles at different stages of growth. Polymerase activity is demonstrable in the nucleolus and nucleoplasm of oocytes from growing follicles, but is absent from maturing oocytes of large follicles.     

EVOLUTIONARY SHIFTS IN THE SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF SPIDER SILKS

We measured the reflectance properties of unpigmented silks spun by a systematic array of primitive (Deinopoidea) and derived (Araneoidea) aerial, web-spinning spiders, as well as silks spun by Araneomorphae and Mygalomorphae spiders that do not spin aerial webs. Our data show that all of the primitive aerial web spinners produce catching silks with a spectral peak in the ultraviolet (UV), and cladistic analysis suggests that high UV reflection is the primitive character state for silk spectral properties. In contrast, all of the derived aerial web spinners produce silks that are spectrally flat or characterized by reduced reflectance in the UV. Correlated with the evolution of these catching silks is a 37-fold increase in species number and apparent habitat expansion. This suggests that the unique silk proteins spun by the araneoids have been important to their ecological and evolutionary diversity.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE Z DISC IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

This electron microscopic study deals with the structure of the Z disc of frog's skeletal muscle, with special regard to the I filaments—whether they pass through the Z disc or terminate at it. In most longitudinal sections the I filaments terminate as rod-like projections on either side of the Z disc, one I filament on one side lying between two I filaments on the opposite side. This indicates that the I filaments are not continuous through the Z disc. The rod-like projections are often seen to consist of filaments (denoted as Z filaments) which meet at an angle. In cross-sections through the Z region the I filaments and Z filaments form tetragonal patterns. The I filaments are situated in the corners of the squares; the oblique Z filaments form the sides of squares. The tetragonal pattern formed by the Z filaments is rotated 45 degrees with respect to the tetragons formed by the I filaments on both sides of Z. This structural arrangement is interpreted to indicate that each I filament on one side of the Z disc faces the center of the space between four I filaments on the opposite side of Z and that the interconnection is formed by four Z filaments.     

梭鱼脑垂体超微结构

在梭鱼中,用电子显微镜能区别出6（或7）种形态的内分泌细胞类型。这些细胞与光学显微镜区分的6（或7）种细胞类型一致。促肾上腺激素分泌细胞和催乳素分泌细胞组成前-腺垂体;中-腺垂体由促性腺激素分泌细胞、促生长激素分泌细胞和促甲状腺激素分泌细胞组成;后-腺垂体包括M1、M2细胞。对每种细胞类型的超微结构特征作了详细描述,并与其他硬骨鱼的相应细胞作了比较讨论。不同的硬骨鱼,在超微结构方面每种细胞类型是一致的。       

棉田蜘蛛群落时间动态研究

运用模糊聚类分析方法研究了棉田蜘蛛群落的时间动态,根据聚类结果,把棉田蜘蛛群落的发生发展分为2个不同阶段:即群落的稳定发展阶段和不稳定发展阶段。     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE M LINE IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

By electron microscopy, the ultrastructure of the M line was investigated in fibers from frog nonglycerinated semitendinosus muscles at body length and at different degrees of shortening and stretch. The M line appeared as a line of high electron opacity in the middle of the A band. Its framework consists of: (i) three (four or five) arrays of transverse M bridges, 200 A apart, connecting each A filament with its six neighbors; (ii) M filaments, parallel to the A filaments, passing through the M line and linking each set of M bridges together. In the shortened fiber the M line remained distinct. At high degrees of stretch, the M line became fainter or indiscernible. This appearance reflects a misalignment of the M components caused by a staggering of the A filaments. The M line reappeared after release of fibers stretched 70–80% above equilibrium length. On the basis of the structural analysis, the possible function of the M line is compared with that of the Z line, and a model is suggested for the M line.