Ultrastructure of Octodon degus spermatozoon with special reference to the acrosome

The ultrastructure of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens of Octodon degus-a Chilean hystricomorph rodent-is presented. The head of spermatozoa measured 7.7 micrometer long by 5.9 micrometer wide and the tail was 41 micrometer long. The head was flattened dorso-ventrally and ovate in outline. The acrosome was the most distinctive feature of O. degus spermatozoa. In a frontal view of the head, the rim of the acrosome surrounding the nucleus had the shape of an inverted U. The acrosomal region covering the plane of the flattened head exhibited dome-shaped protrusions. Transverse or sagittal sections of acrosomal protrusions showed that the plasma membrane and outer acrosomal membrane were evaginated, while the inner acrosomal membrane followed the contour of the nucleus. The protrusions were not distributed at random and they were absent in the equatorial segment and in the rim of the acrosome. In frontal views, near the boundary between the acrosome and post-acrosomal region, fine rods about 170 nm long ran obliquely on the caudal part of the equatorial segment. Behind the same boundary, the post-acrosomal region showed a serrated border. Phosphotungstic acid treatment at pH 0.3 produced staining at the surface of the sperm as well as within a superficial layer of the marginal thickening of the acrosome and on the acrosomal protuberances.     

Ultrastructure of the head of ctenomys maulinus spermatozoon with special reference to the nucleus

The spermatozoa of the neotropical hystricomorph rodent Ctenomys maulinus have been examined cytochemically and under the transmission electron microscope. The head is flattened dorsoventrally. At the caudal end of the head there is a process oriented parallel to the tail. This process corresponds to a cylindrical extension of the nucleus, which constitutes a unique feature among mammals.     

Ultrastructure of chick tendon fibroblast with special reference to secretory mechanism.

Electron-microscope study of chick tendon fibroblast revealed a constant ultrastructural finding of a microtubular-microfibrillar system and an intimate relationship which existed between the microtubular-microfibrillar system and secretory vacuoles. Additionally, the data from this study suggest a mechanism by which newly synthesized collagen molecules are transported and secreted into the extracellular space to be organized into mature collagen.     

Ultrastructure of human dermal blood vessels with special reference to the endothelial filaments.

The ultrastructure of endothelial cytoplasmic filaments of small blood vessels from the human dermis has been described. The material consisted of biopsies from normal abdominal and thoracic skin and also from the skin of patients with urticaria pigmentosa. Most vessels were surrounded by multiple layers of basal lamina and corresponded to the small venules of the subpapillary dermis. The wall of many vessels was composed by endothelial cells with clear cytoplasm which was rich in filaments and by endothelial cells with a dense cytoplasm which was poor in filaments. Some vessels had walls composed of clear endothelial cells only. The filaments varied in diameter between 80-120 A. Curling, recoiling and whorling of cytoplasmic filaments were obvious in endothelial cells of contracted vessels. Bulging of endothelial nuclei and nuclear indentations were seen in the skin lesion of urticaria pigmentosa. The possibility that the clear endothelial cells which are rich in filaments may be more actively involved in contraction than the dense cells, is discussed.     

Ultrastructure of neurohypophysis during autolysis

Autolysis was studied in neurohypophyseal secretory cells by electron microscopy at 30 min, 1-h, 3-h and 6-h intervals. In the first 30 minutes after decapitation mitochondrial slougness phenomenon was observed. "Mosaic" autolytic changes in the ultrastructure of neurohypophyseal cells were found. Severe destructive processes were clearly observed in neurohypophyseal cells when autolysis was continued for 6 hours.     

Ultrastructure of Anaulus creticus Drebes & Schulz with special reference to its reduced ocelli

The ultrastructure of the vegetative cell of the centric diatom Anaulus creticus Drebes & Schulz is described. Exhibiting the organic wall component (diatotepum) separated from the siliceous parts of the cell wall this species belongs to the diatom group with so-called split-walls [17]. A most interesting feature of the Anaulus cell is the horn region and its internal structure. As there is no silicified sieve-plate at the horn top but just a big hole sealed only by a thin diatotepum with a hexagonal meshwork, this wall structure is termed a "reduced ocellus". The inner part of the horn region is largely occupied by a conspicuous protoplasmic plug of proteinaceous nature. The possible function of this peculiar structure is discussed as well as new ideas about the role of the labiate process are provided.     

Postnatal sutural growth of the calvarium: a survey with special reference to the rabbit

The postnatal development of the cranial vault is reviewed with special emphasis upon the rabbit in respect to longitudinal, volumetric, and kinematic growth. Also, the calvarial growth relative to long bone growth is discussed. The cranial vault suture is a multifunctional syndesmosis with variable structure and a rich variability of local behavior.     

Ultrastructure of the crocodile kidney (Crocodylus acutus) with special reference to electrolyte and fluid transport

The study of the ultrastructure of the kidney tubules of the crocodile was made to compare the cellular structure with the capacity for electrolyte resorption and the ability to create an osmotic gradient across the tubular wall. The crocodile tubular cells were found to differ from the mammalian tubular cells in that they do not have basal infoldings, but instead have open lateral spaces between the cells, similar in many aspects to those found in the mammalian gallbladder. The physiological role of these lateral spaces in solute and fluid transfer is discussed.     

Ultrastructure of Stylodinium Iittorale (Dinophyceae) with special reference to the stalk and apical stalk complex

The ultrastructure of Stylodinium littorale Horiguchi et Chihara, a marine, sand-dwelling coccoid dinoflagel-late, was investigated with special emphasis on its stalk and the apical stalk complex. The dinoflagellate alternates between non-motile and motile cells in its life cycle. The non-motile cell possesses a long and distinct stalk. The stalk, consisting of a main cylindrical part and a holdfast, is firmly attached to a thecal plate (the apical pore plate). A part of its proximal portion is hollow and V-shaped in section. The V-shaped hollow space is underlain by a projection from the apical pore plate. An apical stalk complex is present in the motile cells and consists of a large apical pore plate and mucilaginous material. The apical pore plate is depressed into the cell, but has a narrow central tubular projection. The mucilaginous stalk-building material is stored between this plate and the outer plate membrane. The tubular projection of the apical pore plate corresponds to the apical pore of other dinoflagellates and its lumen is filled with electron-dense material. The structure of the apical stalk complex is compared with the homologous structure in Bysmatrum arenicola, the only other example of an apical stalk complex that has been investigated. A general ultrastructural survey revealed that S. littorale possesses a typical dinoflagellate cellular structure.