Nucleus praeopticus and nucleus lateralis tuberis of Salmo salar and Salmo gairdneri: Structure and relationship to the hypophysis

Summary The nucleus praeopticus (NPO) is located on both sides of the preoptic recess and is composed of a pars parvocellularis and a pars magnocellularis. Only in the rainbow trout does the pars magnocellularis consist of separately located medium-sized cells and very large cells. Cytologically, three cell types can be distinguished: 1) unipolar cells ending in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 2) bipolar cells also ending in the CSF and forming an axon, and 3) multipolar cells which generally do not have a direct connection with the ventricle.Axons originate from the cell bodies forming the paired preopticohypophysial tract that runs along the border of the diencephalon and the optic tract. A considerable number of NPO fibers leading to the hypophysis makes close contact with the cell bodies of the pars lateralis of the nucleus lateralis tuberis, indicating a functional relationship. Most NPO fibers terminate in the caudal part of the neurohypophysis, around blood capillaries and at the basal lamina of the pars intermedia. Far fewer fibers appear to terminate near the boundary of the neurohypophysis and the rostral and proximal pars distalis.The nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) is located in the caudal hypothalamus, beginning at the rostral end of the horizontal commissure and extending caudally beyond the hypophysial stalk. It consists of the partes rostralis, medialis, lateralis and ventrolateralis. In both species the p. rostralis contains small subependymal neurons and some larger ones. Only in the p. medialis of the Atlantic salmon are large cells present. In both species the most prominent part is the p. lateralis, which consists solely of large cells. Cells situated between the p. medialis and the p. lateralis are grouped in the p. ventrolateralis. It was impossible to trace the axons originating in the NLT, since the cyto- and axoplasm could not be stained specifically.The structure of the NPO and NLT in the two salmonid species is compared with that of other teleosts.     

The Pituitary Gland of the Roach Leuciscus rutilus

Three endocrine cell types were recognized in the proximal pars distalis (PPD) of the roach, Leuciscus rutilus, by electron microscopy. Two of these cell types are basophilic and assumed to be gonadotropic. The third cell type is acidophilic and its similarity to somatotropic (STH) cells is evident. Green fluorescent cells corresponding to cells with dense core vesicles of about 85 nm are scattered between the PPD and the proximal neurohypophysis (PNH). Their possible content of a catecholamine was demonstrated with microspectrofluorometric analyses. Four axon types with granules 65, 81, 110 and 137 nm in average diameter terminate at the basement membrane. Only fibers with granules of 81 nm enter the PPD to make synapses with the STH cells. Extensions of the basement membrane are continuous with the perivascular space and penetrate the endocrine tissue. It is postulated that axon terminals on the basement membrane are functionally equivalent to synaptic contacts on the endocrine cells. Axon type 4 has granules which in sizes correspond to those of cells in lateral and ventrolateral parts of the nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT). A similar correlation is possible between axon type 3 and other cells in the NLT. This is in accordance with earlier conclusions of a regulation of the gonadotropic cells from the lateral (posterior) parts of the NLT.     

Hypothalamo-hypophysial Neurosecretory System in Normal and Hypophysectomised Catfish,Clarias Batrachus L

Two neurosecretory centers, nucleus preopticus (NPO) and nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT), are distinguished in the hypothalamus of Clarias batrachus L. The cell bodies of NPO are grouped into nucleus preopticus magnocellularis (NPM) and nucleus preopticus parvocellularis (NPP). The NLT is recognised into three divisions: pars rostralis, pars medialis and pars ventrolateralis. The neurons of both the NLT and NPO are aldehyde-fuchsin (AF) positive. The axons from NPO run into four or five bundles ventrolaterally and caudally for some distance before all of them from either side join ventromedially into a single thick cord of neurosecretory fibers which finally enters the pars intermedia to form the neurointermediate lobe. The fibers from NLT, which are separate from the neurosecretory fibers of the NPO, anastomose in the region of the pars distalis. The neurosecretory material (NSM) of NPO is transported by axonal route whereas that of NLT is by axonal as well as ependymovascular pathways. Hypophysectomy results in the increase of AF-positive material in the neurons of NPO shortly after the operation, but later on, the material begins to deplete in them. The AF-positive material at the cut end of neurosecretory fibers, however, accumulates. The AF-positive material in the cell bodies of NLT is also depleted, but the nuclei increase in size, after hypophysectomy.     

Fine structural criteria for identifying rat corticotrophs

Summary The fine structural characteristics of normal rat corticotrophs stained with anti-porcine ACTH^1–39 serum were studied. At the ultrastructure level immunoreactive corticotrophs appear to comprise four distinct cell types: (1) large stellate cells (Siperstein cells) containing granules (170–250 nm in diameter) arranged in a peripheral row and usually embracing an acidophil; (2) elongate spindle-shaped cells (Moriarty cells) in which the secretory granules (170–250 nm in diameter) are distributed in a row or in small clusters in the peripheral cytoplasm; (3) oval or polygonal cells filled only with small secretory granules (130–170 nm in diameter), resembling the acidophil of small granules type (Yoshimura et al. 1974); and (4) polygonal or stellate cells filled with secretory granules of varying diameters (180–300 nm in diameter) and occasionally embracing an acidophil. The first type is the most common, but the others are infrequent. It is concluded that the criteria of Siperstein and Miller (1970) do not necessarily include all categories of rat corticotrophs.     

Localization of monoamines in the forebrain of two salmonid species,with special reference to the hypothalamo-hypophysial system

Summary In the salmon and trout aminergic cell bodies were found in the nucleus recessus lateraralis (NRL) and the nucleus recessus posterioris (NRP), both of which are situated near the third ventricle. Three cell types could be distinguished. Type 1 produces a green and type 2 a yellow fluorescence. The former type probably contains dopamine and the latter 5-hydroxytryptamine. Both types possess intraventricular protrusions in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid. The third cell type produces a less intense blue-green fluorescence; relatively few cells of this type have thick processes in contact with the ventricle. In addition, large fluorescent cells were found in the salmon, dorsal from the caudal part of the NRL. The various parts of the NRL and NRP are interconnected by thick bundles of nerve fibers; tracts leaving the nuclei could be traced for short distances only. The cells of the nucleus praeopticus (NPO), those of the medial part and to a much lesser extent also of the lateral part of the nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) have an aminergic innervation which probably originates from the NRL and/or NRP. All parts of the neurohypophysis contain many monoaminergic fibers, with aminergic material concentrated at the neuro-adenohypophysial interface. Fibers were not observed to penetrate the basal lamina. In the salmon and trout the fibers have a similar distribution, but differ in the intensity of fluorescence, being high in the salmon and low in the trout. Only in the trout have fluorescent cells been found in the adenohypophysis and very occasionally in the neurohypophysis. A number of these cells are basophilic and show a PAS-positive reaction.     

The frontal ganglion of Periplaneta americana L. (insecta)

Summary The frontal ganglion, part of the stomatogastric nervous system, contains about 60 to 80 neurons, 25 to 30 m in diameter. A well developed Golgi system, producing dense-core vesicles, lysosomes, multivesicular bodies and dense bodies are abundant. Glia elements are sparsely distributed. Many nerve fibres contain granules of different size and electron density. Five groups of fibres can be distinguished: Fibres with granules of about 200 nm (type A), fibres with granules of about 160 to 170 nm (type B), fibres with granules of about 80 to 100 nm (type C) and those with synaptic vesicles of 50 nm (type D) respectively. A fifth very small type contains neither vesicles nor granules. Special attention was paid to synaptic contacts. The divergent dyad seems to be the main type in the frontal ganglion. Frequently, neurosecretory endings are observed in presynaptic position. Immunocytochemical staining of neurosecretory material closely corresponds to the distribution of type A fibres, as observed electron microscopically. Immunoelectrophoresis of extracts from frontal ganglia with polyspecific anti-neurosecretion-serum reveals a single precipitation line, indicating that the immunocytochemical localization of neurosecretory material is due to reaction with a specific as well as a crossreagent antibody.Supported by the Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Technik der DDRThe authors wish to thank Mrs. B. Cosack and Mrs. A. Schmidt for excellent technical assistance     

Hypophysiotropic neurons in the goldfish hypothalamus demonstrated by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

Summary The horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) technique was used to visualize the cell bodies of axons projecting to the goldfish pituitary. Following intravenous injections of HRP, HRP reaction products were observed in axons of the rostral pars distalis, proximal pars distalis, neurointermediate lobe, pituitary stalk and in axons coursing from the pituitary into the hypothalamus. HRP-labelled cells in the brain were localized in two regions only — the nucleus preopticus (NPO) pars magnocellularis and pars parvocellularis, and the nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) of the hypothalamus. These observations suggest that the NPO and NLT are the source of the neurosecretory innervation of the goldfish pituitary.     

Autonomous circular and radial motions of the nucleus inPleurenterium tumidum and their relation to cytoskeletal elements and the plasma membrane

Summary InPleurenterium tumidum the nucleus leaves its central position at the end of cell development and moves centrifugally towards the cortical cytoplasm of the isthmus area. It passes between the chloroplast lobes and starts to perform circular motions along the cell wall ring of the isthmus independently from other cell organelles and cytoplasmic streaming. This autonomous nuclear motion is a unique phenomenon in plant cells which is reported here for the first time. One turn of the nucleus which may occur either clockwise or counter-clockwise lasts an average of 60 minutes. The velocity of circular nuclear motion lies between 0.03 and 0.08 m per second and increases with increasing number of nuclear turns. The nucleus undergoes at least 12 but sometimes up to 70 turns and may change its direction of motion several times. When circular nuclear motion is finished the nucleus migrates centripetally towards the cell center where the next mitosis takes place.Ultrastructural studies demonstrate that a distinct arrangement of the plasma membrane forming a ring-shaped fold together with the adjacent isthmus system of microtubules (IS) serves as a hoop-like track for the nucleus during the stage of circular motion. The nucleus moves along this track by surrounding it in a deep furrow which develops parallel to its longitudinal axis at its cell wall facing side. The spatial arrangement of the plasma membrane fold and the nuclear furrow are only present during the stage of circular nuclear motion. No actin filaments seem to be involved in the nuclear circulations since the nucleus continues its circular motions after cytochalasin B (CB) treatment even at concentrations which arrest cytoplasmic streaming. Amiprophos-methyl (APM) leads to an inhibition of circular nuclear motion which resumes when the APM solution is removed. Microtubules appear to be primarily responsible also for both the radial nuclear motions as well as the anchoring of the nucleus in its central position. The meaning of circular and radial nuclear motions for thePleurenterium cell is not yet clear, a relation between the nuclear behavior and the inner cell architecture is discussed and compared to that of other desmids.     

The ultrastructure of the yolk nucleus during early cleavage of Nassarius reticulatus L. (Gastropoda,Prosobranchia)

Summary In all blastomeres of Nassarius from 4- to 16-cell stage yolk nuclei occur. Most of them are spherical bodies, lying juxtanuclearly between the nucleus and the apical plasmalemma. Strangely they are not ultrastructurally uniform but fall into two categories (Fig. 5): Type I is a massive spherical accumulation of mitochondria embedded in a dense intermitochondrial substance, which appears to contain both granules and filaments. Type II is a ball of radially arranged small Golgi stacks clustered around a centre of Golgi vesicles and other organelles embedded in a ground cytoplasm structurally similar to the intermitochondrial substance of type I. The function of both types of yolk nuclei is unknown. These segmentation yolk nuclei have nothing to do with yolk synthesis any more. On the other hand there are no indications that yolk nuclei occurrence is correlated with the break-down of yolk because neither lipid droplets nor protein yolk granules are observed in or beside the yolk nuclei.We wish to thank Mrs. Chr. Mehlis for her valuable technical assistance as well as Professor J. Bergérard for the excellent working conditions on the Station biologique at Roscoff (France).     

Effect of electrical stimulation of the testis on the nucleus praeopticus pars magnocellularis of the frog,Rana tigrina

Summary The changes in the nucleus praeopticus (NPO) pars magnocellularis of the frog Rana tigrina were studied after electrical stimulation of the left testis. After a 3-min stimulation, the neurones of the nucleus showed a statistically significant increase in the nuclear and cellular diameters. The lateral neurones in particular showed a complete loss of Nissl substance and other acute chromatolytic changes. In the aldehyde fuchsin stained preparations, however, the perikarya appeared filled with clumps of intensely stained neurosecretory material (NSM) and disintegrating cell nuclei. The NSM was discharged in the axons, resulting in an increase in number and size of the Herring bodies. These changes were abolished in frogs whose testes had been pre-anaesthetized with xylocaine. Based on these observations, the possible existence of an afferent pathway from the testis to the NPO pars magnocellularis is suggested.     

Monoamine oxidase in the hypothalamo-hypophysial region of the teleosts,Anguilla japonica and Oryzias latipes

Summary Distribution of monoamine oxidase (MAO) was histochemically examined in the hypothalamo-hypophysial region of the eel (Anguilla japonica) and the medaka (Oryzias latipes) with a modified Glenner's tryptamine-tetrazolium method. The hypothalamic neurosecretory cells showed very weak MAO activity in their perikarya. MAO-positive fibers were present in close contact with the neurosecretory cells, suggesting that monoaminergic fibers participate in the control of neurosecretory cell activity. The nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) contained cells exhibiting strong MAO activity. These cells must be monoaminergic neurons.In the anterior region of the neurohypophysis of both eel and medaka, two bundles of MAO-positive fibers originating from the NLT proceed down along each side of the third ventricle into the pars distalis. This suggests that monoaminergic neurons of the NLT are involved in the release of hormones from the pars distalis. In addition to these tracts, numerous MAO-positive fibers proceed backward from the post-optic area and end around the blood capillaries located between the neurohypophysis and the pars intermedia in both species.I wish to express my gratitude to Prof. H. Kobayashi for his valuable advice during the course of this study. I am indebted to Prof. S. Uchida, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, for supplying the eels.     

Microscopical evidences for the presence of a nucleus inCandida albicans chlamydoconidia

By using the fluorescent, DNA specific stain DAPI (4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) some microscopic observations ofCandida albicans pseudomycelium and chlamydoconidia were performed. In this manner blue fluorescent dots were noted both in yeasts, psudomycelium and chlamydoconidia, so evidencing the presence of a nucleus inC. albicans chlamydoconidia.     

The fine structure of the hypothalamic secretory neurons of the White-crowned Sparrow,Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Passeriformes: Fringillidae)

Summary The fine structures of the neurons and neuropils of the magnocellular supraoptic nucleus and the parvocellular nuclei of the rostral hypothalamus, including the suprachiasmatic and medial, lateral and periventricular preoptic nuclei, and the neuronal apparatus of the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, have been examined in the male White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, by correlated light and electron microscopy.The magnocellular supraoptic nucleus is characterized by large neurosecretory perikarya which contain a well developed Golgi complex and densecored granules 1,500–2,200 Å in diameter. The neuropil displays axons, dendrites and glial fibers. Some axonal profiles contain dense-cored vesicles 800–1,000 Å in diameter and clear vesicles 500 Å in diameter. Axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synapses are conspicuous in this nuclear region.The suprachiasmatic nucleus is characterized by an accumulation of small neurons with moderately developed cellular organelles and some dense-cored granules, approximately 1,000 Å in diameter. The profiles of axons within the neuropil contain dense-cored granules 800–1,000 Å in diameter and clear vesicles 500 Å in diameter.The neurons of the medial preoptic nucleus are relatively large and exhibit well developed cellular organelles and dense-cored granules 1,300 to 1,500 Å in diameter. Granular materials are formed within the Golgi complex. The medial preoptic nucleus is rich in secretory perikarya.Occasionally, neurons with granules 1,500–2,200 Å in diameter are encountered in the lateral preoptic and periventricular preoptic nuclei. They may be considered as scattered elements of the magnocellular (supraoptic and paraventricular) system.The organum vasculosum laminae terminalis consists of three layers, i.e., ependymal, internal and external zones, and exhibits a vascular arrangement similar to that of the median eminence. The perikarya of the parvocellular neurons and their axons in the internal zone contain numerous secretory granules ranging from 1,300 to 1,500 Å in diameter.This investigation was supported by Grant No. 5R040 Japan-U.S. Cooperative Science Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to Professor H. Kobayashi and Professor S.-I. Mikami, by a Scientific Research Grant No. 56019 from the Ministry of Education of Japan to S.-I. Mikami, by support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schwerpunktprogramm Biologie der Zeitmessung) to Prof. A. Oksche and by Grant No. GF 33334, U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science Program of the National Science Foundation to Prof. D.S. Farner.Herrn Professor Dr. Dres h.c. Wolfgang Bargmann zu seinem 70. Geburtstag am 27. Januar 1976 gewidmet.     

Cytological evidence for activation of neuroendocrine cells in the parvocellular preoptic nucleus of the goldfish hypothalamus following pharmacological adrenalectomy

Summary The nucleus preopticus (NPO) of the goldfish hypothalamus is composed of parvocellular (NPOpc) and magnocellular (NPOmc) neurosecretory neurons. The cytology of NPOpc and NPOmc neurons was examined with light and electron microscopy following pharmacological adrenalectomy with the adrenocortical inhibitor, metopirone. After five days of metopirone administration, light microscopy revealed a significant increase in nuclear area of NPOpc, but not of NPOmc, neurons.Ultrastructural examination of NPOpc neurons revealed two cell types, PC 1 and PC 2 neurons, which could be distinguished by the relative abundance and the size of the neurosecretory granules in the cytoplasm. The ultrastructural appearance of the NPOmc neurons revealed a single cell type containing abundant neurosecretory granules. Following five days of metopirone administration, the ultrastructural appearance of the PC 1 neurons indicated a state of enhanced secretory activity. Metopirone had no observable effect on the appearance of the PC 2 or NPOmc neurons. These observations demonstrate that PC 1 neurons are activated under the conditions of pharmacological adrenalectomy and suggest that the secretory activity of these neurons is inhibited by adrenocorticosteroids.     

The hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the frog Rana temporaria

Summary The median eminence (ME) of the adult frog, Rana temporaria, was studied by means of electron microscopy including quantitative electron-microscopic autoradiography. In frogs captured in May and June numerous peptidergic neurosecretory fibres extending via the internal zone to the pars nervosa display large swellings containing few granules, mitochondria, neurotubules and cisternae of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, few secretory globules up to 1.5 m in diameter occur in these varicosities. In animals collected during the autumn period many of these neurosecretory swellings filled with neurosecretory granules and polymorphic inclusions resemble Herring bodies. Three types of granule-containing neurosecretory fibres were observed in the external zone (EZ) of the ME of adult R. temporaria. Peptidergic A₁- and A₂-type fibres are characterized by granules 150–220 nm and 100–160 nm in diameter, respectively. Monoaminergic fibres of type B with granules approximately 100 nm in diameter represent 50% of all neurosecretory elements in the EZ of the frog ME; 12% of the total number of granule-bearing axons in the EZ actively taking up radiolabelled 5-hydroxytryptophan are thought to be serotoninergic terminals. Neurosecretory terminals of all types and glial vascular endfeet establish direct contacts with the perivascular space of the primary portal capillaries. Some neurosecretory terminals are separated from the lumen of the third ventricle by a thin cytoplasmic lamella of tanycytes. The possible physiological significance of this structural pattern is discussed.     

Immunocytochemical and electron-microscopic study of the elasmobranch nucleus sacci vasculosi

Summary The elasmobranch nucleus sacci vasculosi was studied by means of electron microscopy (in the dogfish) and immunocytochemistry (in the dogfish and the skate) by using antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, somatostatin, serotonin, and substance P. Ultrastructural study of the dogfish nucleus sacci vasculosi shows the presence of medium-sized cells that possess numerous mitochondria but that have no dense-core vesicles in the cytoplasm or in cell processes. Fibres of the conspicuous tractus sacci vasculosi have a beaded appearance and form conventional synapses with dendrites and cell perikarya of the nucleus sacci vasculosi. The perikarya of this hypothalamic nucleus were not immunoreactive to any of the antibodies tested, and fibres immunopositive to tyrosine hydroxylase, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, somatostatin, serotonin, and substance P were scarce within this nucleus, in both the dogfish and the skate. Dorsal to the nucleus sacci vasculosi, there are numerous positive neuronal processes in addition to many small neurons that show immunoreactivity to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, somatostatin and tyrosine hydroxylase. Two types of neuron occur in this dorsal region, displaying dense-core vesicles of either 100–160 nm or 60–100 nm diameter in their cytoplasm; they were identified as peptide-containing and monoamine-containing neurons, respectively. The neuropil of this region has a significantly different ultrastructure from that of the nucleus sacci vasculosi, with many processes containing dense-core vesicles. This group of neurons, located dorsal to the nucleus sacci vasculosi and showing (a) immunoreactivity to neuropeptides or to monoamine-synthesizing enzyme, and (b) cytoplasm with dense-core vesicles, was considered not to be a part of the nucleus sacci vasculosi but rather part of the nucleus tuberculi posterioris. These results support the non-peptidergic and non-aminergic character of the nucleus sacci vasculosi.     

The efferent connections of the lateral septal nucleus in the guinea pig: projections to the diencephalon and brainstem

Summary The anterograde Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) tracing technique was used to determine the distribution of efferent fibers originating in the lateral septal nucleus of the guinea pig. For complementary detection of the chemical identity of the target neurons, double-labeling immunocytochemistry was performed with antibodies to PHA-L and to vasopressin, oxytocin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, serotonin or dopamine -hydroxylase, respectively. The hypothalamus received the majority of the PHA-L-stained septofugal fibers. Here, a specific topography was observed. (1) The medial and lateral preoptic area, (2) the anterior, lateral, dorsal, posterior hypothalamic and retrochiasmatic area, (3) the supraoptic, paraventricular, suprachiasmatic, dorsomedial, caudal ventromedial and arcuate nuclei, and (4) the tuberomammillary, medial and lateral supramammillary, dorsal and ventral premammillary nuclei always contained PHA-L-labeled fibers. The rostral portion of the ventromedial nucleus and the medial and lateral mammillary nucleus only occasionally showed weak terminal labeling. In other diencephalic areas, termination of PHA-L-labeled fibers was observed in the epithalamus and the nuclei of the midline region of the thalamus. In the mesencephalon, terminal varicosities occurred in the ventral tegmental area, interfascicular and interpeduncular nucleus, and periaqueductal gray. In addition, the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei of the metencephalon, together with the locus coeruleus and the dorsal tegmental nucleus, received lateral septal efferents.     

Liquorkontaktneurone im Nucleus lateralis tuberis von Fischen

Zusammenfassung Der Nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) von Fischen wurde licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Beim Karpfen senden die ventromedialen Zellen des Kernes Fortsätze in das Lumen des 3. Ventrikels, wo sie auffallend große, knopfförmige, aus einer inneren und äußeren Zone bestehende Liquorkontakt-Nervenendigungen bilden. Zwischen den Zellen des NLT liegen bedeutend kleinere Neurone, deren kleine, freie, dense-core Vesikel enthaltende, zilientragende Nervenendigungen den Liquor cerebrospinalis erreichen.Die äußeren Zonen der Liquorkontakt-Nervenendigungen des NLT besitzen ein außerordentlich gut entwickeltes endoplasmatisches Retikulum, dessen flache, mit Ribosomen besetzte Cisternen sich parallel zur Oberfläche der Endigung ausdehnen. In der inneren Zone des Endkolbens können neben verstreuten endoplasmatischen Cisternen Golgi-Felder und zahlreiche Mitochondrien beobachtet werden. Die Endigung enthält neurosekretorische Elementargranula (Durchmesser 1,300—1,900 Å) in wechselnder Menge und einzelne Neurotubuli.Im Lumen des 3. Ventrikels treten ferner Katecholamingranula-haltige Neuriten auf, die mit den Liquorkontaktendigungen des NLT mehrfach Synapsen bilden. Der präsynaptische Bereich ist durch synaptische (400–550 Å) und granulierte Vesikel (600–800 Å) charakterisiert. Ähnliche Synapsen werden auf den neurosekretorischen Perikaryen und ihren Fortsätzen beschrieben. In den ausgedehnten Golgi-Feldern der Perikaryen des NLT findet man Zeichen einer Sekretbildung. Aufgrund der morphologischen Daten wird der kammernahe Teil des NLT als ein Gebiet des Liquorkontakt-Neuronensystems angesehen. Die mutmaßliche Bedeutung der Liquorkontakt-Nervenendigungen wird diskutiert.

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Liquor contacting neurons in the nucleus lateralis tuberis of fishes

Summary The nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) of fishes was studied light- and electron microscopically. In the carp, the ventromedial cells of the nucleus send processes into the lumen of the 3rd ventricle where they form strikingly large, club-shaped liquor contacting nerve endings built up of an inner and outer zone. Smaller neurons situated between the cells of the NLT, form small, ciliated, free, dense-core vesicles containing nerve endings in the cerebrospinal fluid.The outer zone of the liquor contacting terminals of the NLT contains an extraordinarily well developed endoplasmic reticulum which flat, rough cisternae run parallel to the surface of the terminal. In the inner zone of the nerve ending, Golgi areas and numerous mitochondria can be observed besides of scattered endoplasmic cisternae. The terminal contains neurosecretory granules (1,300–1,900 Å) of various amounts, and some neurotubules.Furthermore, in the lumen of the 3rd ventricle, there occur neurites containing catecholamine granules. These axons form repeatedly synapses with the liquor contacting terminals of the NLT. The presynaptic cytoplasm is characterized by synaptic (400–550 Å) and densecore vesicles (600–800 Å). Similar synapses occur on the neurosecretory perikarya and their processes. The extensive Golgi region of the perikarya of the NLT shows equivalents of secretory activity. On the basis of the morphological data, the part of the NLT situated near the ventricle is considered as to belong to the liquor contacting neuronal system. The presumable significance of the liquor contacting nerve endings of the NLT is discussed.

     

Rice protein-body formation: all types are initiated by dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum

The ultrastructure of protein deposition in the starchy endosperm of developing rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains was examined in conventionally fixed (glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide) tissues and also in thick sections (0.3 m) of zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide post-fixed tissue. Three types of previously characterised protein body were observed and it was shown that each type was initiated by dilations of the endoplasmic reticulum. Crystalline type protein bodies were initiated by a ribosome-free dilation from rough cisternal endoplasmic reticulum and developed by inclusion of protein from dictyosome-derived vesicles. The large spherical and small spherical protein bodies developed within the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.Abbreviations Cr crystalline protein body - DAF days after fertilization - ER endoplasmic reticulum - Ls large spherical protein body - Ss small spherical protein body - ZIO zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide     

Cell types of the endocrine pancreas in the shark Scyliorhinus stellaris as revealed by correlative light and electron microscopy

Summary In the pancreas of Scyliorhinus stellaris large islets are usually found around small ducts, the inner surface of which is covered by elongated epithelial cells; thus the endocrine cells are never exposed directly to the lumen of the duct. Sometimes, single islet cells or small groups of endocrine elements are also incorporated into acini. Using correlative light and electron microscopy, eight islet cell types were identified:Only B-cells (type I) display a positive reaction with pseudoisocyanin and aldehyde-fuchsin staining. This cell type contains numerous small secretory granules (Ø280 nm). Type II- and III-cells possess large granules stainable with orange G and azocarmine and show strong luminescence with dark-field microscopy. Type II-cells have spherical (Ø700 nm), type III-cells spherical to elongated granules (Ø450 × 750 nm). Type II-cells are possibly analogous to A-cells, while type III-cells resemble mammalian enterochromaffin cells. Type IV- cells contain granules (Ø540 nm) of high electron density showing a positive reaction to the Hellman-Hellerström silver impregnation and a negative reaction to Grimelius' silver impregnation; they are most probably analogous to D-cells of other species. Type VI-cells exhibit smaller granules (Ø250 × 500 nm), oval to elongated in shape. Type VI-cells contain small spherical granules (Ø310 nm). Type VII-cells possess two kinds of large granules interspersed in the cytoplasm; one type is spherical and electron dense (Ø650 nm), the other spherical and less electron dense (Ø900 nm). Type VIII-cells have small granules curved in shape and show moderate electron density (Ø100 nm). Grimelius-positive secretory granules were not only found in cell types II and III, but also in types V, VI, and VII. B-cells (type I) and the cell types II to IV were the most frequent cells; types V to VII occurred occasionally, whereas type VIII-cells were very rare.This work was supported by a fellowship from the Ministry of Education of Japan and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn-Bad Godesberg (La 229/8)