Morphological evidence for a close interaction of chromaffin cells with cortical cells within the adrenal gland

Summary The adrenal medulla appears to exert a regulatory influence on adrenocortical steroidogenesis. We have therefore studied the morphology of rat, porcine and bovine adrenals in order to characterize the contact zones of adrenomedullary and adrenocortical tissues. The distribution of chromaffin cells located within the adrenal cortex and of cortical cells located within the adrenal medulla was investigated. Chromaffin cells were characterized by immunostaining for synaptophysin and chromogranin A, both being considered specific for neuroendocrine cells. Cortical cells were characterized by immunostaining for 17-hydroxylase, an enzyme of the steroid pathway. Cellular contacts of chromaffin cells and cortical cells were examined at the electron microscopical level. In rat and porcine adrenals, rays of chromaffin cells, small cell clusters and single chromaffin cells or small invaginations from the medulla could be detected in all three zones of the cortex. Chromaffin cells often spread in the subcapsular space of the zona glomerulosa. In porcine and bovine adrenals, 17-hydroxylase immunoreactive cells were localized within the medulla. Single cortical cells and small accumulations of cells were spread throughout this region. At the ultrastructural level, the chromaffin cells located within the cortex in pig and rat adrenals formed close cellular contacts with cortical cells in all three zones. Our morphological data provide evidence for a possible paracrine role of chromaffin cells; this may be important for the neuroregulation of the adrenal cortex.     

Functional implications of oligomerization of simian virus 40 large T antigen during lytic virus infection.

The formation of oligomers of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen in SV40-infected and -transformed monkey cells was analyzed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The overall distribution of total T antigen during lytic infection showed mainly low-molecular-weight forms (monomers and dimers) in the early phase (10 h postinfection) and an increase in the number of oligomers in the late phase of the lytic cycle (36 h postinfection), indicating an accumulation of these final products. In contrast, studying the conversion of newly synthesized T antigen into oligomers by appropriate pulse-chase radiolabeling of infected cells revealed that this processing decelerates considerably during the late phase of infection. This mechanism can be reaccelerated by blocking DNA replication with aphidicolin. Since none of these results could be obtained by using synchronized SV40-transformed monkey cells (COS-1), these observations are compatible with the idea that the process of T antigen oligomerization may be involved in viral, but not in cellular, DNA synthesis.     

Ultrastructural localization of the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in neurons of the song system of the zebra finch,Poephila guttata

Summary The distribution of parvalbumin (PV) within neurons of the vocal motor nucleus hyperstriatum ventralepars caudalis (HVc) was investigated in the forebrain of adult male zebra finches by means of light and electron microscopy using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Parvalbumin-reaction product was located in the amorphous material of perikarya, dendrites and nuclei, and associated to microtubuli, postsynaptic densities and intracellular membranes; it was found in some axons and Gray type-2 boutons, but rarely in type-1 boutons and never in the Golgi apparatus. These observations suggest that parvalbumin may regulate calcium-dependent processes at the postsynaptic membrane and in the cytosol. Furthermore, the partial association of parvalbumin to microtubuli points to an involvement in calcium-dependent tubular functions. Calcium currents and microtubular assembly or transport may be relevant for the known functions of HVc in song learning.     

Effects of irradiance and temperature on photosynthesis in C3, C4 and C3/C4 Panicum species

Species in the Laxa and Grandia groups of the genus Panicum are adapted to low, wet areas of tropical and subtropical America. Panicum milioides is a species with C₃ photosynthesis and low apparent photorespiration and has been classified as a C₃/C₄ intermediate. Other species in the Laxa group are C₃ with normal photorespiration. Panicum prionitis is a C₄ species in the Grandia group. Since P. milioides has some leaf characteristics intermediate to C₃ and C₄ species, its photosynthetic response to irradiance and temperature was compared to the closely related C₃ species, P. laxum and P. boliviense and to P. prionitis. The response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature was similar to that of P. laxum and P. boliviense, with saturation at a photosynthetic photo flux density of about 1 mmol m^-2 s^-1 at 30°C and temperature optimum near 30°C. In contrast, P. prionitis showed no light saturation up to 2 mmol m^-2 s^-1 and an optimum temperature near 40°C. P. milioides exhibited low CO₂ loss into CO₂-free air in the light and this loss was nearly insensitive to temperature. Loss of CO₂ in the light in the C₃ species, P. laxum and P. boliviense, was several-fold higher than in P. milioides and increased 2- to 5-fold with increases in temperature from 10 to 40°C. The level of dark respiration and its response to temperature were similar in all four Panicum species examined. It is concluded that the low apparent photorespiration in P. milioides does not influence its response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature in comparison to closely related C₃ Panicum species.Abbreviations AP apparent photosynthesis - I CO₂ compensation point - gl leaf conductance; gm, mesophyll conductance - PPFD photosynthetic photon flux density - PR apparent photorespiration rate - RuBPC sibulose bisphosphate carboxylase     

Morphometrisch-ultrastrukturelle Untersuchungen am Nucleus supraopticus der Ratte nach Dehydratation

Zusammenfassung Der Nucleus supraopticus der Ratte, die einer Dehydratation ausgesetzt war, wurde ultrastrukturell-morphometrisch analysiert. Dabei zeigte sich, daß die relativen Volumenanteile der einzelnen Zellkompartimente während der fünftägigen Durstperiode eine auffallende Konstanz aufweisen. Hingegen läßt sich eine absolute Zunahme der Einzelzellvolumina und somit auch der an der Synthese und Sekretion der Neurohormone beteiligten Zellkompartimente feststellen. Die vorliegenden Befunde sprechen für einen beschleunigten Abtransport des neurosekretorischen Materials bei gesteigerter Synthese. Auf eine optimale Standardisierung der Perfusionsmethode bei Untersuchungen am neurosekretorischen Zwischenhirnsystem wird hingewiesen.

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Morphometric-ultrastructural investigations on the supraoptic nucleus of dehydrated rats

Summary The supraoptic nucleus of the dehydrated rat has been analysed by electron microscopy and morphometry. With that it appears, that the relative volumes of the different cell compartments are striking constant. Otherwise one can see an absolute increase of the cell volume together with the cell compartments which take part at the synthesis and secretion of the neurohormones. These results are expression of an accelerated move of the neurosecretory material during increased synthesis. The importance of an optimal standardization of the perfusion-method in investigations of the neurosecretory system is demonstrated.

Wesentliche Teile der vorliegenden Arbeit werden von H. F. Reinhardt der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Basel als Dissertation vorgelegt.