Structure et fonctionnement des organes de Kölliker chez les jeunes octopodes (Mollusca,Cephalopoda)

Summary The present study is a reinvestigation of the peculiar integumental differentiations described for the first time by Kölliker in 1844. These transitory organs of microscopic size are composed of two parts; one arises from the ectoderm and forms a sac adhering to the epidermis and enclosing a bundle of chitinous setae that are secreted by the microvilli of a specialized basal cell; the other, arising from the mesoderm, is a muscular apparatus that allows evagination and spreading of the bundle. This functioning was observed in fresh skin preparations of newly-hatched Eledone moschata. The Kölliker organs are present in the young of all ineirrate octopods known so far, except for two species of Octopus (O. briareus, O. maya).

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Abréviations C chromatophore - CB cellule basale - CG cellule glandulaire - CM cellule murale - CS cloison sous-cutanée - D dictyosome - E épiderme - F faisceau de soies - FC fibres conjonctives - FP fibre profonde - G golgi - I interdigitations - K organe de Kölliker - M muscle - MB membrane basale - MV microvillus - N noyau - NU nucléole - R réticulum endoplasmique - S soies du faisceau - VS vaisseau sanguin     

Histologischer Calciumnachweis mit den Metallindikatoren Murexid,Calcon und Calcein

Zusammenfassung Die Metallindikatoren Calcon und Calcein werden in die histologische Technik eingeführt, und ihre Spezifität für den Calciumnachweis wird erörtert. Es gelingt bei Anwendung einer 0,1 N NaOH- oder KOH-Lösung unter Zusatz von KCN im Ansatz sowie nach Vorbehandlung mit Na₂CO₃, einen hochspezifischen Calciumnachweis in den Anlagen von Skeletstücken mit Calcein und dem in der Histologie bereits bekannten Murexid zu erzielen.Calcon gibt nur in Glycinpuffer (pH 12,4 oder 9) eine verwertbare Rotfärbung der calciumhaltigen Strukturen. Die Spezifität ist geringer, jedoch kann mit Calcon eine Zweikomponenten-Färbung erreicht werden: das Präparat ist im Untergrund diffus blau gefärbt, wie auch die Zellen mit den Zellkernen, und die calciumhaltigen Skeletstrukturen heben sich dagegen rot ab. Eine Gegenfärbung zur Zelldarstellung ist somit, im Gegensatz zu Murexid, nicht unbedingt erforderlich.Für den intrazellulären Calciumnachweis eignen sich die in den angegebenen Lösungen gelösten Indikatoren nur in geringem Umfange.

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Specific demonstration of calcium

Summary The metal indicators Calcon and Calcein are introduced into histochemical technology and their specifity for the demonstration of calcium is discussed. A high specifity of histochemical demonstration of calcium in skeleton is possible by means of Calcein and Murexide which has been known in histology for some time. This high specifity in using Calcein and Murexide is obtained by adding KCN to a 0.1 N NaOH or KOH solution and by pretreatment with Na₂CO₃.Calcon, however, only stains material containing calcium in glycin buffer (pH 12.4 or 9). The specifity is lower but it is possible to obtain a double — coloured demonstration: calcium structures in skeleton show red against an underground (including cells and nuclei) in blue. In comparison to Murexide a counterstain for the demonstration of cells is not absolutely necessary.For the intracellular demonstration of calcium the abovementioned methods are applicable though not very efficient.

     

Leukodystrophy, skin hyperpigmentation, and adrenal atrophy: Siemerling-Creutzfeldt disease. Transmission through several generations in two families.

Two apparently unrelated families with a history of leukodystrophy associated with adrenal insufficiency are presented. Only about 20 cases of this syndrome have been reported until now. It was first described by Siemerling and Creutzfeldt; therefore we propose the designation Siemerling-Creutzfeldt disease. Our pedigrees include 15 additional cases and prove that this disease is inherited as an X-linked or as an autosomal dominant trait with male sex limitation. Within these families, the interindividual variability of clinical signs is remarkable. Patients can survive into the fifth decade, and one has reproduced. Attempts to identify heterozygotes on the basis of endocrinologic investigations were unsuccessful.     

Structure and histochemical characteristics of the mucosa of the Vater's ampulla in man (according to materials of aimed biopsies)]

Examination of 52 aimed duodenal biopsies has revealed that there are several variants of the structure of the Vater's papilla mucous membrane. In a number of cases it is identicalto the mucous membrane of the duodenum. In 20 cases the Vater's papilla was covered with mucoid epithelium which was histochemically similar to the epithelium lining the stomach, bile ducts and the gallbladder. The "intermedial" forms found in these cases appearedto be capable to change into mucoid or edging epithelium. The mucous cells occasionally found in the Vater's papilla epithelium might be a variation of goblet cells. It seems that they are secreting by holocrine type.     

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The induction of sex-chromosomal nondisjunction and diploid spermatids following X-irradiation of pre-spermatid stages in the Northern vole Microtus oeconomus

Chromosome nondisjunction seems to be one of the most important mutagenic effects occuring in man and makes an enormous contribution to human foetal wastage. As yet, little or no information is available on which environmental factors are important in inducing nondisjunction and accordingly we have investigated the effect of X-irradiation on inducing non-disjunction in male germ cells of an experimental mammal, the Northern vole — Microtus oeconomus.Using a staining technique based upon the presence of heterochromatin we have scored the number of sex chromosomes in early spermatids in both irradiated and unirradiated animals. A significant increase in nondisjunction, following treatment, was found with all doses between 25 and 200 R. However, variations in nondisjunction induction at various time intervals following irradiation suggest variations in cell stage sensitivity. More surprising was the large induction of diploid gametes which also demonstrated a significant induction with all irradiation doses.From the distribution of sex chromosomes we conclude that both nondisjunction and diploid gamete induction occur at both meiotic divisions. At present it is not possible to conclude whether the radiation response is linear and to define the cell-stage sensitivity with precision. The reasons for this appear to be variations in sensitivity between animals and also that there is a clear overlap between the duration of the early spermatid stage analyzed (4 days) and the interval between sampling times.     

Incorporation of biodegradable nanoparticles into human airway epithelium cells-in vitro study of the suitability as a vehicle for drug or gene delivery in pulmonary diseases

PURPOSE: Nanoparticles are able to enhance drug or DNA stability for purposes of optimised deposition to targeted tissues. Surface modifications can mediate drug targeting. The suitability of nanoparticles synthesised out of porcine gelatin, human serum albumin, and polyalkylcyanoacrylate as drug and gene carriers for pulmonary application was investigated in vitro on primary airway epithelium cells and the cell line 16HBE14o-. METHODS: The uptake of nanoparticles into these cells was examined by confocal laser scan microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry (FACS). Further the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was evaluated by an LDH-release-test and the inflammatory potential of the nanoparticles was assessed by measuring IL-8 release. RESULTS: CLSM and FACS experiments showed that the nanoparticles were incorporated into bronchial epithelial cells provoking little or no cytotoxicity and no inflammation as measured by IL-8 release. CONCLUSIONS: Based on their low cytotoxicity and the missing inflammatory potential in combination with an efficient uptake in human bronchial epithelial cells, protein-based nanoparticles are suitable drug and gene carriers for pulmonary application.     

Expansion and contraction of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response—An optimal control approach

The kinetics of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against intracellular pathogens has been found to have many stereotypical features that appear to be programmed early in the infection. We explain these findings here in terms of CTL response kinetics that minimize the probability that a pathological symptom will occur in association with the infection and its eradication. We assume that both the infection and the CTLs contribute to this pathology. We find that contraction kinetics is influenced by the relative pathogenicities of infection and CTLs, as well as on the virulence of the infection and the efficiency of the CTLs, but not by the magnitude of expansion or the dose and duration of infection. Our analysis explains the finding that the duration of the CTL expansion is highly stereotypical, with the maximum expansion of the CTL response dependent on the dose of the infection. Finally, we show that the stereotypical nature of CTL kinetics relies upon stringent regulation of the rates at which CTLs proliferate and die.