Formation of sperm cells inGalium mollugo (Rubiaceae),Trichodiadema setuliferum (Aizoaceae), andAvena sativa (Poaceae)

The formation of sperm cells has been examined ultrastructurally in the tricellular pollen grains ofGalium mollugo L. (Rubiaceae).Trichodiadema setuliferum Schwantes (Aizoaceae), andAvena sativa L. (Poaceae). After detachement from the intine the generative cell of all three species lies free within the vegetative cytoplasm. The two sperm cells are built inTrichodiadema andAvena by a single separating wall, while inGalium mollugo two independent walls are formed. However, both mechanisms separate the two male gametes completely.     

The coelomic elements of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus)

Summary The four coelomocyte classes of the red sea urchin,Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, described by light-microscope studies, are confirmed and the fine structure described. Material examined included fresh, non-aggregated cells; partially aggregated ones that had been heldin vitro up to four days; and aggregated cells heldin vitro for 40 days. Leukocytes from youngin-vitro preparations differed from most fresh leukocytes by having enlarged dense nucleoli and enlarged rough endoplasmic reticulum, which was often filled with secretion, and sometimes connected to the perinuclear cisterna. Leukocytes held 40 daysin vitro were mainly plasmodial. Unlike cells held a limited timein vitro, the 40-day leukocytes had nuclei much like those in fresh preparations.The three classes of spherule-bearing cells (vibratile cells, red spherule cells, and colorless spherule cells) differed greatly in ultrastructure, and varied in appearance according to the fixative and pH present during fixation. Vibratile-cell spherules were of biphasic construction, suggesting the condition of certain vertebrate mast cells. Red spherule cells occurred in two forms. The most common form in fresh preparations had despherulated,i.e., lacked material in the spherules; and the spherules of the second type were filled with either granular or homogeneous material. Colorless spherule cells had evenly and finely granular material in the spherules. Colorless spherule cells were uncommon or missing in material that had been heldin vitro. Certain unidentifiable spherule cells occurred in some preparations.Although samples are small, it is notable that in May and June, recognizable glycogen was present only in leukocytes that had been heldin vitro, not in any fresh cells. Glycogen occurred in fresh cells of all classes from samples taken in December and February (during or shortly before the normal spawning season ofS. franciscanus). Unlike the cells in fresh preparations made in May, June, and December, fresh leukocytes and vibratile cells taken in February often had extremely lobed nuclei and considerably developed rough endoplasmic reticulum.This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. 9296 (to P. T.Johnson) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.     

Structural organization of ovarian follicle cells in the cotton bug (Dysdercus intermedius) and the honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Summary The somatic epithelia of Dysdercus and Apis follicles were analyzed by electron microscopy, and the patterns of F-actin and microtubules were studied by fluorescence microscopy. The epithelia in both species differ considerably in shape and in the organization of the cytoskeleton. During previtellogenic stages, the epithelium consists of columnar-shaped cells with small (Dysdercus) or no (Apis) lateral intercellular spaces. During vitellogenesis, the follicle cells round up; the intercellular spaces increase in size in Dysdercus follicles, whereas in Apis follicles they remain small. Along the basal surface of the follicle cells, there are conspicuous parallel bundles of microfilaments perpendicular to the anteroposterior axis of the follicles. In the honeybee, these microfilament bundles are present in long filopodia, most of which are embedded in thickenings of the basement membrane and extend over the surfaces of neighbouring cells. In the cotton bug, the basal surface of the follicle cells is thrown into parallel folds. The microfilament bundles are located just underneath the cell membrane where the folds contact the basement membrane. In the polar regions of the Dysdercus follicle, the epithelial cells become flat and adhere to each other without forming intercellular spaces. The basement membrane is particularly thick in the polar areas; this has also been observed in Apis follicles around the intercellular bridge connecting oocyte and nurse cells.     

Vegetative and reproductive morphology of Herpochondria corallinae (Martens) Falkenberg and H. elegans (Okamura) Itono (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta) from Korea

The vegetative and reproductive morphology of two epiphytic Herpochondria species, H. corallinae (Martens) Falkenberg (the type species) and H. elegans (Okamura) Itono from Korea were investigated. They are bilaterally compressed and alternate-distichously branched, and lateral branches are produced by oblique divisions of the apical cell. Procarps are restricted to the first periaxial cell of the branches. Spermatangial mother cells produce one or two spermatangia. H. corallinae forms tetrasporangia on six periaxial cells, whereas H. elegans has them on only the two lateral periaxial cells. The prostrate habit, the production of six periaxial cells in opposite pairs, and tetrasporangial stichidia are confirmed as diagnostic characters of the genus Herpochondria.     

Epidermal ultrastructure of Anoplodium stichopi (Plathelminthes,Dalyellioida), a flatworm endosymbiotic in Stichopus tremulus (Holothurioida)

Summary The epidermal ultrastructure of Anoplodium stichopi Bock 1925 (Platyhelminthes, Dalyellioida, Umagillidae) was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The species lives in the perivisceral coelom of the aspidochirote holothurian Stichopus tremulus Gunnerus 1767. Two types of cells were observed in the epidermis of A. stichopi: ciliated cuboidal epithelial cells and nonciliated pear-shaped cells. The surface of the ciliated epidermal cells is folded into anastomosing ridges. Numerous coated vesicles are subjacent to the surface folds and mitochondria are abundant just below them. Observations indicate that A. stichopi takes up nutrients pinocytically from the coelomic fluid of the host. The ciliation of A. stichopi is sparse.     

PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM AMERICANUM (L.) LEEKE) AND GRAIN SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR (L.) MOENCH) ULTRASTRUCTURE

Ultrastructural features of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) caryospses were investigated with thin sections of the dry, mature grain in the transmission electron microscope, and fractured kernels in the scanning electron microscope. The pericarp of those grains is comprised of three distinct layers: epicarp, mesocarp of parenchyma cells, and endocarp of compressed cross and tube cells. Mesocarp cells of grain sorghum contain starch granules embedded in a cytoplasmic matrix. The major constituent of sorghum and millet aleurone cells are aleurone grains (protein bodies) and lipid bodies. Subaleurone cells contain a much higher proportion of protein bodies than starch granules, and the protein bodies are structurally distinct from those in the aleurone. The germ scutellar ultrastructures of the two grains were similar; protein bodies, lipid bodies, epidermal cells and parenchyma cells of the germ are described.     

Induction from posterior hypothalamus is essential for the development of the pituitary proopiomelacortin (POMC) cells of the toad (Bufo japonicus)

The role of the posterior hypothalamus in the development of the epithelial hypophysis was studied in Bufo embryos. In animals from which the central part of the neural plate (NP) had been surgically removed at the open neurula stage, the infundibulum did not develop, and the epithelial hypophysis was formed away from the normal site without morphological connection with the brain. Immunoreactive MSH cells and ACTH cells, i.e, the pituitary POMC cells, were not detected in any of the surgically treated animals while other types of secretory cells (PRL, GH, TSH and GTH cells) were invariably present. In view of the fact that POMC cells originate in the anterior neural ridge, and not in the neural plate, the embryonic brain seems to exert an inductive influence upon the primordial pituitary POMC cells. Since these cells differentiate in a tail graft, isolated from the brain at a later stage (tail-bud stage), the inductive stimuli must be conveyed from/via the posterior hypothalamus to the pituitary anlage between the open neurula and the tail-bud stages.Abbreviations ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone - ANR anterior neural ridge - GH growth hormone - GTH gonadotropic hormone - MSH metanocyte stimulating hormone - NP central part of anterior neural plate - POMC proopiomelanocortin - PRL prolactin - TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone     

Ultrastructure of free neuromasts of Bathygobius fuscus (gobiidae) and canal neuromasts of Apogon cyanosoma (apogonidae)

Light and electron microscopic observations were made on the lateral line organs of the free neuromasts of the goby Bathygobius fuscus and the canal neuromasts of the cardinal fish Apogon cyanosoma. As in other lateral line systems, each neuromast consists of hair cells, supporting cells and mantle supporting cells, the whole being covered by a cupula. In B. fuscus the free neuromasts are mounted on papillae and have hair cells with stereocilia up to 2.5 μm long and a single kinocilium at least 25 μm long. Each neuromast is covered by a vane-like cupula that can be divided into two regions. The central region over the sensory area contains columns of myelin-like figures. These figures are absent from the outer region covering the mantle. The canal neuromasts of A. cyanosoma are diamond-shaped with up to 1,500 hair cells. The cupula is unusual in having a channel that lies over the sensory region. The hair cells have up to 45 stereocilia, the tallest reaching 2.5 μm, and a kinocilium at least 5 μm long. Tip links are shown for the first time between rows of stereocilia of the hair cells of lateral line neuromasts. The presence of tip links has now been demonstrated for all acousticolateral hair cell systems.     

Ultrastructural features associated with secretion in the salt glands of Frankenia grandifolia (Frankeniaceae) and Avicennia germinans (Avicenniaceae)

Using stereological procedures, a detailed analysis was made from thin section electron micrographs of secreting and nonsecreting salt glands of Frankenia grandifolia (Cham. and Schlecht) and Avicennia germinans (L.) Stem. In F. grandifolia secretory cells, vacuolar volume significantly decreased, while the volume of endoplasmic reticulum increased in secreting glands. Numerous minivacuoles were predominantly located along the periphery of secreting secretory cells, some in apparent fusion with the plasma membrane. No difference was found in mitochondrial volume in the secretory cells between secreting and nonsecreting glands. In A. germinans, there was a significant decrease in vacuolar volume in secreting secretory cells. The volume of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria also increased in these cells. However, no evidence of mini-vacuolar fusion with the plasma membrane was observed. These results indicate that the physical process of secretion may differ between F. grandifolia and A. germinans; in both, however, the ultrastructural observations support the contention that specific structural parameters are correlated with the process of secretion.     

COPPER SORPTION AND RELEASE BY CYCLOTELLA MENEGHINIANA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) AND CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Initial Cu⁺⁺ sorption by Cyclotella meneghiniana Kütz. (Cu⁺⁺-sensitive) and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard (Cu⁺⁺-resistant) was rapid in the first 5 min of Cu⁺⁺ incubation with little sorption after 2 h. On a cell to cell basis, Cyclotella sorbed ca. five times more Cu⁺⁺ from the medium than Chlamydomonas. In MBL medium with EDTA Cyclotella and Chlamydomonas cells sorbed 21.0 and 4.41 nM Cu⁺⁺/10⁶ cells respectively in 6 h with 0.3 mg Cu⁺⁺/l in the medium. Proportionally similar quantities of Cu⁺⁺ were sorbed when the cells were Cu⁺⁺ incubated in MBL + citrate or filtered lake water. Cleaned cell walls of Cyclotella sorbed little Cu⁺⁺ (1.7 nM/10⁶ cells) as compared to living cells (17.5 nM Cu⁺⁺/10⁶ cells) in 3 h. Therefore, in living Cyclotella most of the Cu⁺⁺ taken up must be absorbed by the protoplasm or perhaps by the organic layer surrounding the silica wall. Cleaned cell walls of Chlamydomonas sorbed 3.5 nM Cu⁺⁺/10⁶ cells and living Chlamydomonas cells sorbed 2.6 nM Cu⁺⁺/10⁶ cells. This indicates that most of the Cu⁺⁺ sorbed by Chlamydomonas cells remained bound to the cell wall and probably did not readily enter into the protoplasm: When placed in Cu⁺⁺ free medium after Cu⁺⁺ incubation, Cyclotella and Chlamydomonas cells released 46 and 59% respectively of the Cu⁺⁺ sorbed.     

Fine structure of olfactory epithelium inSchizothoraichthys progastus McClelland andSchizothorax richardsonii Gray (Cyprinidae: Teleostei) from Garhwal Himalaya (India)

The olfactory epithelium of two closely related species of snowtrout—Schizothoraichthys progastus McClelland andSchizothorax richardsonii Gray (Subfamily: Schizothoracinae. family-Cyprinidae, Teleostei), from a perennial glacier-fed river Mandakini of Garhwal hills was studied by employing transmission electron microscopic method The olfactory lamella comprises two epithelia—anterior and posterior, with a stroma sandwiched in between. Both are strartified. The anterior one is thicker than posterior. InSchizothoraichithys progastus, the sensory part of epithelium has two types of receptor cells—ciliated receptor cells and rod cells whilst inSchizothorax richardsonii, there arc three types of receptor cells—ciliated receptor cells, microvillous receptor cells and rod cells in addition to sustentacular cells, basal cells and mucous cells. While inhabiting similar hillstream habitat, the differential ecological niches, feeding habits etc., account for the presence of different receptor cell types in these species, It implies the possible diversification at cellular and physiological levels so as to minimize the competition by using varied olfactory cues.     

Morphological and ultrastructural characterization of the alimentary canal in larvae of Streltzoviella insularis (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Streltzoviella insularis (Staudinger) is an important tree‐boring pest, that primarily damages Sophora japonica (Linnaeus) and Ginkgo biloba (Linnaeus), as well as other common species, at great economic cost to the urban landscape construction industry in China. In the present study, the alimentary canal morphology of S. insularis was observed using light microscopy, and its ultrastructure was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The foregut of S. insularis can be divided into the pharynx, esophagus, crop, proventriculus, and cardiac valve. The well‐developed crop forms the longest section of the foregut. It is able to store large amounts of food and is lined with a monolayer of epithelial cells. Many sclerotized microspines occur on the surface of the anterior intima and there are dense spines on the posterior intima of the proventriculus. Epithelial cells of the midgut include columnar cells, goblet cells, and regenerative cells, but endocrine cells are absent. The hindgut consists of the pyloric valve, ileum, and rectum. There is no clear distinction between the ileum and colon. The intima surface of the pyloric valve carries many microspines, whereas the intestinal wall of the rectum is thin with well‐developed rectal pads. The rectal epithelial cells form a squamous monolayer. A cryptonephric excretory system is located in the hindgut. There are six spiral Malpighian tubules, in which a cellular layer on a basement membrane encloses a lumen. These results will provide the basis for further studies of the structure and function in S. insularis larvae.     

Nuclear number in cells of some species of Delesseriaceae (Rhodophyta)

The number of nuclei in multinucleate blade cells of 12 species of red algae in the family Delesseriaceae (Rhodophyta) is primarily restricted to a range that is characteristic of the species; in some species larger or older cells in other parts of thalli contain more nuclei than cells in blades. The numbers were similar in laboratory-grown and field-collected specimens and in gametangial and tetrasporangial plants. Most blade cells of Anisocladella pacifica, Sorella spp., and Phycodrys profunda contain 3–5 nuclei. Cells throughout thalli of Phrix gregarium most frequently have one or two nuclei. Other species showed larger ranges. Cells within stipes, midribs, or basal regions of blades of Anisocladella pacifica, Branchioglossum undulatum, Nienburgia andersoniana, Nitophyllum hollenbergii, Platysiphonia clevelandii, and two species of Cryptopleura can have 20+ nuclei, more than in distal blade cells. Chromosome numbers of n = 8–10 for Nienburgia andersoniana, n = 20–26 for Nitophyllum hollenbergii, and n = 7–8 for Phrix gregarium are reported.     

Ultrastructural study of the epithelial mucous cells in lizards (Lacertilia)

Summary An ultrastructural study of the mucous cells of the intestinal epithelium of four lacertilian species (Lacerta lepida, Lacerta hispanica, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus) is here reported. Two types of mucous cells have been found in these species: common mucous cells and granular mucous cells. Immature and mature forms of both types have been observed. The common mucous cells or typical goblet cells have the same characteristics in all four species. The granules of the granular mucous cells of the two species of Lacerta are similar but differ from those of the other two species.     

Functional morphology of the locomotory podia ofHolothuria forskali (Echinodermata,Holothuroida)

Summary The ventral surface ofHolothuria forskali (Holothuroida, Aspidochirotida) is almost completely covered by small-sized podia that are locomotory. Each podium consists of a stem that allows the podium to lengthen, to flex, and to retract, and this is topped by a disc that allows the podium to adhere to the substratum during locomotion. Podia ofH. forskali do not end in a sucker and their adhesion to the substratum thus relies entirely on the disc epidermal secretions. The disc epidermis is made of five cell types: non-ciliated secretory cells of two different types that contain granules whose content is either mucopolysaccharidic (NCS1 cells) or mucopolysaccharidic and proteinic in nature (NCS2 cells), ciliated secretory cells containing small granules of unknown nature (CS cells), cilitated nonsecretory cells (CNS cells), and support cells. The cilia ofCS cells are subcuticular whereas those ofCNS cells, although also short and rigid, traverse the cuticle and protrude in the outer medium. During locomotion, epidermal cells of the podial disc are presumably involved in an adhesive/de-adhesive process functioning as a duogland adhesive system. Adhesive secretions would be produced byNCS1 andNCS2 cells and de-adhesive secretion byCS cells. All these secretions would be controlled by stimulations of the two types of ciliated cells (receptor cells) which presumably interact with the secretory cells by way of the nerve plexus. The lack of suckers and the coexistence of two adhesive cell types in the disc epidermis give the locomotory podia ofH. forskali a compromise structure which would perhaps explain their ability to move as efficiently along soft and hard substrata.     

The morphology of Cercophora palmicola (Lasiosphaeriaceae)

A detailed study of ascomal morphology and development in Cercophora palmicola showed that ontogeny is ascohymeniaceous, giving rise to an ostiolate perithecium. Ascomal initials consist of a coiled ascogonium surrounded by several layers of hyphae whose cells become pseudoparenchymatous. The centrum of the young ascoma is composed of a few rows of large, thin-walled pseudoparenchymatous cells that line the ascomal wall, with the central region filled by tightly packed, filamentous paraphyses. The ascogenous system forms along the inside of the layer of pseudoparenchymatous cells at the base of the paraphyses and gives rise to unitunicate asci that grow up among the paraphyses. The wall of the mature perithecium is greatly thickened. It is composed of three regions: a thin outer region of darkly pigmented, angular cells with thickened walls; a broad central region of cells with gelatinized walls; and a thin inner region of flattened cells. Ascomal ontogeny in C. palmicola conforms well to the Sordaria type of development, as defined by Huang.     

Histopathology of roots of Glycine max (L.) Merrill induced by root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

In Glycine max, the second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita entered the roots through the apical meristem or elongation zone. The juveniles induced giant cells in the zone of vascular strands. Near the head of the nematode and adjacent to the giant cells, the vascular strands exhibited abnormalities in their shapes and structures; both xylem and phloem were found to be affected. The giant cells had dense and granular cytoplasm, and large nuclei with large nucleoli. Some parenchyma cells exhibited hypertrophy, while others exhibited hyperplasia. The distinctive feature of the study is reporting the occurrence of abnormal xylem, abnormal phloem and abnormal parenchyma.     

Potential antitumour and pro-oxidative effects of (E)-methyl 2-(7-chloroquinolin-4-ylthio)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylate (QNACR)

Context: Characterization of the pro-oxidant activity of QNACR.

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce cellular damage and represent unique opportunities to kill malignant cells. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated the new compound, (E)-methyl 2-(7-chloroquinolin-4-ylthio)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylate (QNACR) as potential pro-oxidative agent against breast cancer.

Methods: Oxidative stress biomarkers such as ROS, thiobarbuturic acid reactive species (TBARs) and different antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in cell lysates.

Results: QNACR showed cytotoxic and more selective effects to tumour MCF7 cells (IC₅₀ < 25 µM) compared to antitumour controls, inducing ROS and TBARs parallel to inhibitions of catalase (CAT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH). Longer exposures to QNACR triggered adaptive effects increasing the overall activities of CAT, glutathione reductase, G6PDH and 6PGDH, but eventually the adaptation changes faded and cells died.

Conclusion: QNACR led to remarkable modifications in the oxidative status of tumour cells, proposing this compound as potential alternative for antitumour therapy.     

Microscopic anatomy of the integument in the ribbon worm Micrura bella (Stimpson, 1857) (Pilidiophora,Nemertea)

The integument of ribbon worms in the order Heteronemertea is distinct from the integuments in the other taxa of nemerteans due to the presence of a special subepidermal glandular layer, the cutis. Among heteronemerteans, the ultrastructure of the cutis has been studied only in the Lineus ruber species complex. In the current study, ultrastructural (transmission electron microscopy) and histochemical studies of the epidermis and the cutis of Micrura bella from the basal Lineage A of the family Lineidae were performed. The epidermis consisted of ciliated and serous gland cells and is separated from the cutis by a layer of the subepidermal extracellular matrix; the basal lamina was not detected. The cutis comprised musculature, two types of mucous and four types of granular gland cells, and pigment cells with four types of granules. In the cutis of juvenile worms, type II granular gland cells and type II mucous cells were not observed. The integument of the caudal cirrus consisted of ciliated and serous gland cells and two intraepidermal lateral nerve cords; the cutis was absent. The compositions of the integument glands of M. bella and the L. ruber species complex are similar, except for the presence of type IV granular gland cells with narrow rod-shaped and lamellated granules exhibiting an alternating dark and light transverse layers and type II mucous cells found only in M. bella.     

Ultrastructural aspects of leaves inFestuca ovina andPoa sphondylodes (C-3 Poaceae)

Structural aspects of the leaves of two common festucoids,Festuca ovina andPoa sphondylodes, have been examined employing the electron microscopy. The nature of vascular bundles and of sheaths that surround vascular tissues was discussed in the study. The festucoids exhibited a non-Kranz C-3 anatomy with more than four mesophyll cells separating the bundle sheaths of a leaf blade. Vascular tissues in theseFestuca andPoa leaves were surrounded by a double sheath: an inner distinct mestome sheath (MST) and an outer indistinctive layer of parenchymatous bundle sheath (PBS) cells. The PBS cells were much larger than the MST and had thin walls. The MST cells were relatively small and rectangular inP. sphondylodes and more or less hexangular in transverse sections ofF. ovina. InP. sphondylodes, MST had conspicuously thickened inner tangential walls with asymmetrically uninterrupted suberized lamellae in radial and tangential walls. In most differentiated MST cells, all walls were highly suberized. During suberin deposition, MST cells were quite vacuolated and most of the cytoplasm was present as a thin peripheral layer. However, MST walls inF. ovina revealed very thin suberized lamellae with translucent striations. No chloroplasts were detected inP. sphondylodes, whereas the MST inF. ovina contained small chloroplasts. Plasmodesmata were well developed in the primary pit fields of walls between MST and vascular cells, and between adjacent MST cells. Plasmodesmata were less frequent in the walls between the inner and outer sheath cells. Suberized lamellae were totally absent from the PBS cell walls in all veins. External to the PBS, the mesophyll comprised thin walled cells with abundant intercellular spaces. Peripherally arranged chloroplasts in the mesophyll were numerous and often larger than those of PBS and MST cells. Characteristics associated with C-3 and other ultrastructural features were also discussed in the study.