Electron microscopy of germinating ascospores ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The wall of mature ascospores ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae showed in sections under the electron microscope a dark outer layer and a lighter inner layer. The latter was composed of a greyish inner part and a light outer part. During germination, the spore grew out at one side and the dark outer layer was broken. Of the light inner layer, the inner greyish part became the wall of the vegetative cell, but the extented part of the cell had a new wall.     

Ultrastructure of hyphae and ascospores in the genus Eremascus eidam

Hyphae and ascospores of Eremascus fertilis and E. albus were studied in ultrathin sections. The lateral wall of the hyphae had a thick electron-light inner layer and a thin dark outer layer. The septa had a simple central pore with or without a plug, and there were Woronin bodies in the vicinity. The wall of the ascospores of E. fertilis showed a thick light inner layer and a thin dark outer layer. In the wall of the spores of E. albus a dark fibrillar layer was present between the light inner layer and the dark outer layer. The spores of this species germinated with a tube the wall of which was continuous with a newly formed layer inside the spore wall.This investigation was supported by the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (Z. W. O.)     

Ultrastructure of the ascospores of some species of the Torulaspora group

Development and germination of the ascospores in species of the Torulaspora group of yeasts have been described. Most species had warty spores which, in sections, showed a dark outer layer consisting of the outer unit membrane of the prospore wall and a layer underneath formed at an early stage of development of the spores. In mature spores the light inner layer of the wall was delimited at the outside by a thin dark layer. The warts often contained dark material. The ascospores of two Pichia and three Debaryomyces species were studied for comparison; they differed in sections from the Torulaspora spores. The taxonomic implications of the ultrastructural observations have been discussed.     

Electron microscopy of sporulation inSchwanniomyces alluvius

Sporulation inSchwanniomyces alluvius appeared to be preceded by fusion of a mother and a daughter cell. Meiosis probably occurred in the mother cell and one or two spores were formed in the latter. A study of thin sections showed that the spore wall developed from a prospore wall. The mature spore wall consisted of a broad light inner layer and a thinner dark outer layer including warts. An equatorial ledge was present. During germination in the ascus, a new light inner layer was formed and the old layers of the spore wall partly broke up. Ascospores in a strain ofS. persoonii had a different wall structure in that the dark layer had changed into light areas separated by dark material which formed bulges at the surface.     

Light Enhances the Turnover of Phosphatidylinositol in Rat Retinas

Light stimulation of isolated rat retinas is shown to enhance the turnover of phosphatidylinositol (PI) as demonstrated by a light-dependent increase in [³H]inositol incorporation and concurrent hydrolysis of existing PI. Studies with rat retinas incubated with [³H]inositol and then microdissected at the level of the outer plexiform layer into photoreceptor cell and inner retina layers indicated that the light-enhanced incorporation of [³H]inositol was associated with the photoreceptor cell layer. The rate of PI hydrolysis in retinas prelabeled in vivo with [³H]inositol was higher in light than in dark incubations and was higher in the photoreceptor cell layer than within the inner retina. Within the photoreceptor cell layer, PI turnover involved 2%/min of the total PI contentin dark and 6–8%/min in light. In contrast to what has been reported for stimulus-enhanced turnover of PI in some tissues, this light-enhanced turnover of PI in the retina was not associated with detectable reductions in PI content. Parallel studies of sodium (²²Na) uptake demonstrated that the photoreceptor cells remained functional during these incubations as they retained the capacity to restrict the entry of ²²Na in light but not in dark.     

Aragonitic dendritic prismatic shell microstructure in Thracia (Bivalvia,Anomalodesmata)

The shells of most anomalodesmatan bivalves are composed of an outer aragonitic layer of either granular or columnar prismatic microstructure, and an inner layer of nacre. The Thraciidae is one of the few anomalodesmatan families whose members lack nacreous layers. In particular, shells of members of the genus Thracia are exceptional in their possession of a very distinctive but previously unreported microstructure, which we term herein “dendritic prisms.” Dendritic prisms consist of slender fibers of aragonite which radiate perpendicular to, and which stack along, the axis of the prism. Here we used scanning and transmission electron microscopical investigation of the periostracum, mantle, and shells of three species of Thracia to reconstruct the mode of shell calcification and to unravel the crystallography of the dendritic units. The periostracum is composed of an outer dark layer and an inner translucent layer. During the free periostracum phase the dark layer grows at the expense of the translucent layer, but at the position of the shell edge, the translucent layer mineralizes with the units typical of the dendritic prismatic layer. Within each unit, the c‐axis is oriented along the prismatic axis, whereas the a‐axis of aragonite runs parallel to the long axis of the fibers. The six‐rayed alignment of the latter implies that prisms are formed by {110} polycyclically twinned crystals. We conclude that, despite its distinctive appearance, the dendritic prismatic layer of the shell of Thracia spp. is homologous to the outer granular prismatic or prismatic layer of other anomalodesmatans, while the nacreous layer present in most anomalodesmatans has been suppressed.     

Conjugation in the yeast Saccharomycopsis capsularis schiönning

Cells of the yeast Saccharomycopsis capsularis fused in pairs after dissolving of part of the cross wall between them near the lateral wall. After nuclear migrations through the opening, the cross wall was closed again and the cells at both sides became asci. The wall of the ascospores developed from a prospore wall. Between the two unit membranes a very thin dark layer broadened to the dark layer of the wall and after that, the light inner layer developed. Immature spores in the strain studied had a ledge which disappeared during maturation.     

Morphology of the retina in deep‐water fish Nezumia sclerorhynchus (Valenciennes, 1838) (Gadiformes: Macrouridae)

Using light microscopy, we examined the retina of benthopelagic fish Nezumia sclerorhynchus. Although the retina is typical of other vertebrates, having three nuclear and two synaptic layers, it presents some features associated with the animal's deep‐sea habitat. A stratum argenteum containing iridescent crystals is located in the choroid. The pigment cell layer shows bulky cells filled with melanin granules but without the typical apical processes. The visual cells, consisting of a big population of rods, are arranged in several banks. No cones were observed. The outer segments are very long and cylindrical, and the inner segments are constituted by a small ellipsoid at the proximal end. The outer nuclear layer contains several rows of oval nuclei, and the spherules in the outer plexiform layer have less regular outlines than nuclei. The inner retina is characterized by very large horizontal cells, and presumable bipolar and amacrine cells separated by large spaces that are occupied by neuronal processes. Finally, the low density of ganglion cells produces a thin nerve fibre layer. The results of this study suggest that the retina of Nezumia sclerorhyncus exhibits high visual sensitivity and that vision is a sense that plays an important role in its behaviour.     

Formation of large micro‐ornamentations in developing scales of agamine lizards

The embryonic scales of two Australian agamine lizards (Hypsilurus spinipes and Physignatus lesueuerii) derive from the undulation of the epidermis to form dome‐shaped scale anlage that later become asymmetric and produce keratinized layers. Glycogen is contained in basal and suprabasal cells of the forming outer scale surface that are destined to differentiate into β‐keratin cells. The outer peridermis is very flat, but the second epidermal layer, provisionally identified as an inner peridermis, is composed of large cells that accumulate vesicular bodies and a network of coarse filaments. The sequence of epidermal layers produced beneath the inner peridermis in these agamine lizards corresponds to that of previously studied lizards, but the first subperidermal layer has characteristics of both clear (keratohyalin‐like granules) and oberhautchen (dark β‐keratin packets) cells. This layer is here identified as an oberhautchen since it fuses with the underlying β‐keratinizing cells forming large spinulae as the entire tissue becomes syncytial so that the units appear to increase in size. These spinulae very likely represent sections of honeycomb‐shaped micro‐ornamentations. A mesos layer appears underneath the β‐layer before hatching. J. Morphol. 240:251–266, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Light-stimulated protein movement in rod photoreceptor cells of the rat retina

We examined the intracellular distribution of three proteins involved in the cyclic GMP cascade of visual transduction; cGMP phosphodiesterase, the alpha-subunit of G-protein and arrestin. In adult rats, light-induced changes in the amounts of G and arrestin in the photoreceptor cell outer segments were observed both by polyacrylamide gel analysis of purified ROS and by immunocytochemical localization on retinal sections. In dark conditions, G was concentrated in the outer segments of photoreceptor cells while in the light G alpha was seen in the inner segments and the outer nuclear layer. Arrestin had the opposite distribution, appearing in the inner segments and outer nuclear layer under dark conditions and in the ROS under light conditions. In contrast, PDE, the enzyme which is activated by G and inhibited by arrestin showed no light-stimulated movement. In both light- and dark-adapted retinas, PDE was localized primarily in the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells.     

Morphology and wall ultrastructure of some Middle Devonian dispersed megaspores from northern Poland

Specimens of dispersed Middle Devonian megaspores have been isolated from core samples from the Miastko 1 borehole in Western Pomerania. Comprehensive investigations using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy supplement previous information on morphology and gross structure and provide data on spore wall ultrastructure of four megaspore species. Corystisporites acutispinosus is azonate; the inner layer is laminate, and the lumen is lined by a thick, laterally continuous lamina. The outer layer consists of small, tangentially aligned tabular elements that become wider, more extensive and irregularly arranged toward the outside. Coronispora variabilis is a coronate megaspore; the inner layer appears homogenous and is probably lamellate. The outer layer consists of elongate, cylindrical, branching elements that are overlaid within the proximal part of the body by a lamellate, compact, almost homogenous layer. Grandispora ciliata is pseudosaccate. The inner body is laminate with laminae thickening and becoming less continuous and less tightly packed toward the outside. The outermost region of the inner body and the innermost region of the outer envelope consist of tabular and cylindrical elongate units. The bulk of the outer wall is almost homogenous, and near the surface it is granular. Pomeranisporites subtriangularis is pseudozonate. The inner layer appears homogenous except for the presence of a single innermost lamina. The inner part of the outer layer may represent small tabular and cylindrical elements, and the outer part comprises folded laminae. The megaspores studied share numerous features of morphology and wall ultrastructure with the lycopsids, putative lycopsids, and some enigmatic Devonian plants.     

The nauplius eye complex in 'conchostracans'(Crustacea, Branchiopoda: Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, Cyclestherida) and its phylogenetic implications

The nauplius eye in Cyclestherida, Laevicaudata and Spinicaudata (previously collectively termed Conchostraca) consists of four cups of inverse sensory cells separated by a pigment layer and a tapetum layer. There are two lateral and two medial cups, a ventral medial cup and a posterior medial cup. The pigment and tapetum layers contain two different kinds of pigment granules, the inner pigment layer relatively large, dark (and electron dense) granules, and the outer tapetum layer light, reflective pigment granules. The presence of four cups and two different kinds of pigment granules are interpreted as autapomorphies of Phyllopoda. The position and shape of the nauplius eye in Spinicaudata is very distinct and herein interpreted as an autapomorphy of this taxon.Additional frontal eyes might be present dorsally or ventrally in varying proximity to the nauplius eye, but they have separate nerves from their sensory cells to the nauplius eye centre in the protocerebrum. Rhabdomeric structures are present in all these frontal eyes, evidencing their light sensitivity. In Lynceus biformis and L. tatei (Laevicaudata), two pairs of frontal eyes were found. In Cyclestheria hislopi (Cyclestherida), an unpaired ventral frontal eye is present. We did not find additional frontal eyes in Limnadopsis parvispinus and Caenestheriella sp. (Spinicaudata).     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF DISPERSED AND IN SITU SPECIMENS OF THE DEVONIAN SPORE RHABDOSPORITES LANGII: EVIDENCE FOR THE EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS OF PROGYMNOSPERMS

Abstract: The spore Rhabdosporites (Triletes) langii (Eisenack) Richardson, 1960 is abundant and well preserved in Middle Devonian (Eifelian) ‘Middle Old Red Sandstone’ deposits from the Orcadian Basin, Scotland. Here it occurs as dispersed individual spores and in situ in isolated sporangia. This paper reports on a detailed light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis of both dispersed and in situ spores. The dispersed spores are pseudosaccate with a thick walled inner body enclosed within an outer layer that was originally attached only over the proximal face. The inner body has lamellate/laminate ultrastructure consisting of fine lamellae that are continuous around the spore and parallel stacked. Towards the outer part of the inner body these group to form thicker laminate structures that are also continuous and parallel stacked. The outer layer has spongy ultrastructure. In situ spores preserved in the isolated sporangia are identical to the dispersed forms in terms of morphology, gross structure and wall ultrastructure. The sporangium wall is two‐layered. A thick coalified outer layer is cellular and represents the main sporangium wall. This layer is readily lost if oxidation is applied during processing. A thin inner layer is interpreted as a peritapetal membrane. This layer survives oxidation as a tightly adherent membranous covering of the spore mass. Ultrastructurally it consists of three layers, with the innermost layer composed of material similar to that comprising the outer layer of the spores. Based on the new LM, SEM and TEM information, consideration is given to spore wall formation. The inner body of the spores is interpreted as developing by centripetal accumulation of lamellae at the plasma membrane. The outer layer is interpreted as forming by accretion of sporopollenin units derived from a tapetum. The inner layer of the sporangium wall is considered to represent a peritapetal membrane formed from the remnants of this tapetum. The spore R. langii derives from aneurophytalean progymnosperms. In light of the new evidence on spore/sporangium characters, and hypotheses of spore wall development based on interpretation of these, the evolutionary relationships of the progymnosperms are considered in terms of their origins and relationship to the seed plants. It is concluded that there is a smooth evolutionary transition between Apiculiretusispora‐type spores of certain basal euphyllophytes, Rhabdosporites‐type spores of aneurophytalean progymnosperms and Geminospora‐/Contagisporites‐type spores of heterosporous archaeopteridalean progymnosperms. Prepollen of basal seed plants (hydrasperman, medullosan and callistophytalean pteridosperms) are easily derived from the spores of either homosporous or heterosporous progymnosperms. The proposed evolutionary transition was sequential with increasing complexity of the spore/pollen wall probably reflecting increasing sophistication of reproductive strategy. The pollen wall of crown group seed plants appears to incorporate a completely new developmental mechanism: tectum and infratectum initiation within a glycocalyx‐like Microspore Surface Coat. It is unclear when this feature evolved, but it appears likely that it was not present in the most basal stem group seed plants.     

贵州松桃寒武系清虚洞组Mongolitubulus squamifer 壳体显微结构初步研究

本文主要对贵州松桃寒武系清虚洞组灰岩中酸泡获得的管状化石Mongolitubulus squamifer壳体显微及亚显微结构进行研究。研究结果显示, M. squamifer不仅内层广泛发育纵向纤维结构,具鳞片的外层外壁也发育有微弱的纵向纤维结构,可能解释了管体外壁广泛发育的纵向开裂现象。在一枚保存有圆卵形鳞片以下部位的标本中发现,鳞片排列形式是由基部密集的小瘤点状颗粒然后过渡为不规则的圆卵形鳞片,到管体中上部逐渐形成规则排列的三角形鳞片。通过测量部分已报道的M.squamifer管体宽度与鳞片宽度发现正常发育的棘刺,鳞片大小与管体宽度有一定相关性。贵州松桃的M.squamifer壳层原始结构为2层,包括致密的具鳞片的外层和具明显纵向纤维结构的内层,管体内外层之间发育空隙导致管体容易破损。一些标本近基部断口处的层间空隙容易被次生矿物充填,导致内层增厚致密纤维结构消失或产生中间填充层。该研究揭示了M.squamifer的鳞片排列特征和壳体微观结构,为解释其亲缘关系提供新的形态学证据。     

Putative neurotransmitters in the retinae of three urodele species (Triturus alpestris,Salamandra salamandra,Pleurodeles waltli)

Summary The immunocytochemical localization of several substances with putative neurotransmitter or modulator properties was investigated in the retinae of three urodele species. Gamma-aminobutyric acid-like immunoreactive labelling appeared in different types of amacrine and horizontal cells. In addition, labelled fibres in the optic nerve were detected. It was not possible to determine whether these fibres were ganglion-cell axons or part of an efferent projection. Endogenous serotonin was found in several populations of amacrine cells including stratified and diffuse types. Glucagon-like immunoreactivity appeared in one bistratified amacrine cell type, and neurotensin-like immunoreactivity was detected in a single monostratified amacrine cell type. Metenkephalin-like-immunoreactive labelling was rare but found in several sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer. Thus each peptide-like-immunoreactive cell type makes up a distinct and unique population of cells and probably has a special functional role in retinal processing. There are striking similarities in the peptide-like immunoreactive patterns of Triturus alpestris and Necturus maculosus whereas in Ambystomatidae the peptide-like-immunoreactive systems appear to be differently organized. This supports the hypothesis that Salamandridae and Proteidae are more closely related to each other than to the Ambystomatidae.Abbreviations GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid - GCL ganglion cell layer - Glu glucagon - HRP horseradish peroxidase - INL inner nuclear layer - IPL inner plexiform layer - IR immunoreactive or immunoreactivity - M-enk metenkephalin - Neu neurotensin - OFL optic fibre layer - ONL outer nuclear layer - OPL outer plexiform layer - Ser serotonin This work forms part of the doctoral thesis of Gaby Gläsener, Faculty of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany. Supported by a research grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Hi 306/1-1)     

Outer retinal anoxia during dark adaptation is not a general property of mammalian retinas

The purpose of this study was to measure the intraretinal oxygen distribution across the retina under conditions, which maximise outer retinal oxygen consumption. In particular, we looked for evidence of increased oxygen delivery from the choroid and the deep retinal capillary layer, and whether or not this was sufficient to avoid the development of intraretinal anoxia. Under dark-adapted conditions the photoreceptors need additional energy, at least part of which is derived from increased oxidative metabolism. In earlier studies in the cat retina it was revealed that dark adaptation could render some regions of the outer retina anoxic. The present study of the in vivo oxygen distribution across the rat retina in light and dark found no evidence of outer retinal anoxia in the dark. This was despite a mean increase of 52.6+/-11.4% (n=7) in outer retinal oxygen consumption in the dark. The mean value for the minimum outer retinal PO(2) in the dark was 5.2+1.2 mmHg. Oxygen delivery from both the choroid and the deep retinal capillary layer increased in the dark (P<0.01, and P<0.001, respectively). It is argued that the ability of the deep capillary layer to compensate for changes in oxygen demand in the outer retina is an important element in the maintenance of homeostasis in the retina. This is in addition to the role of the deep capillary layer in supplying oxygen to the highly consuming plexiform layers within the inner retina. These findings in the rat retina also demonstrate that intraretinal anoxia in the dark, is not, as implied by earlier work in the cat, a general feature of mammalian retinas.     

A Histochemical Study of Cytoplasmic Changes During Wall Layer Formation in the Oospore of Albugo candida

The young multinucleate oogonium in Albugo is double-walled with an outer layer exhibiting a negative staining reaction for insoluble polysaccharides and an inner layer which is strongly PAS-positive. The oogonial nuclei exhibit an unusual staining behaviour with aniline blue showing an outer dark blue sheath of proteins surrounding a central hyaline nuclear core. Various histochemical localizations were performed for tracing the chronological sequence of development of the wall layers of the oospore. The first wall of the fertilized oospore was laid at the interphase of the periplasm and the ooplasm. Subsequent wall layers were formed both on the inner and outer side of the first oosporic wall. The second oosporic wall was formed just internal to the first one and exhibited faint PAS positivity. The third wall of the oospore was formed external to the first one and the PAS-negative material for this was apparently contributed by the periplasm. This wall layer at later stages acquired a ridged appearance and these ridges in a mature oospore appear as distinct “pegs”. The last wall to be formed is the innermost one and it completely surrounds the central ooplasm. This wall layer is callosic in nature.     

Spore morphology and ultrastructure of Cyathea (Cyatheaceae,Pteridophyta) species from southern South America

Spore sculpture and wall structure of eight Cyathea (Cyatheaceae) species from southern South America were studied using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Two layers, i.e. an inner and an outer layer, were observed in the perispore. The inner layer has two strata: the inner stratum is attached to the exospore and composed of rodlets tangentially oriented to the spore surface and randomly intermixed; the outer stratum consists of a three-dimensional network of rodlets with either free or fused distal edges forming spinules. The outer layer is thin, darkly contrasted and covers the rodlets. In most cases, the exospore has two layers and a pitted surface. In Cyathea atrovirens, the exospore surface is smooth, while in C. delgadii and C. myriotricha it is verrucate. The homogeneity of perispore features within the genus Cyathea is evident, while exospore features are heterogeneous. The exospore has different kinds of surface-structures that are of potential interest for assessing evolutionary trends within the group.     

Fine structure of the dioptric apparatus in the stalk eye of Onchidium verruculatum (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora): a distinct lamellar substructure of the lens

 The dioptric apparatus of the stalk eye in Onchidium verruculatum, including a tentacular epidermis, a cornea, and a lens, was examined using transmission electron microscopy. The tentacular epidermis was formed by columnar epidermal cells, sensory dendrites, and glandular cells. The cornea was an anterior part of the eye vesicle and consisted of corneal cells which contained abundant glycogen particles but no dark pigment granules in their cytoplasm. An acellular, transparent, ellipsoidal lens was located in the center of the eye vesicle. The lens showed a marginal zone, an outer zone, a transitional zone, an inner zone, and a central region arranged concentrically. The outer zone was the most intense electron-dense region and was finely granular in structure. The marginal zone was also finely granular and surrounded the outer zone with many hair-like slender strands on the retinal side. Toward the center of the lens this homogeneous fine granularity gradually changed into globular or rod-like substructures, about 30 nm in diameter, and then abruptly transformed into a lamellar substructure of about 30 nm in thickness. The inner zone contained a mosaic of lamellar substructures which were arranged in a fingerprint pattern that was particularly enhanced with periodic acid methenamine silver proteinate staining. The center itself consisted of deformed lamellar substructures. The concentric arrangement of substructures inside the lens of the O. ver-ruculatum stalk eye is probably responsible for the concentration and/or refraction of light. Accepted: 5 December 1997     

Seed structure and systematic position ofHampea nutricia (Malvaceae)

The mature seeds ofHampea nutricia are glabrous, ovoid, arillate and dark tan in colour. Longitudinal streaks on the seed surface correspond to the underlying integumentary vascular strands. Testa and tegmen are derived from the outer and inner integuments, respectively. The outer epidermis of the tegmen forms a palisade-like macrosclereid layer, the inner epidermis a fringe layer. The endosperm is single-layered and also fills the space between the two cotyledons. The embryo is nearly straight, gland-dotted; it has asymmetrical and folded cotyledons, and gossypol ducts. Systematic position ofHampea is discussed and its placement inMalvaceae is supported.