Cytological aspects of haemoglobin and chlorocruorin synthesis in polychaete annelids

Summary The ultrastructure of the haematopoietic cells in the polychaetes Neoamphitrite figulus Dalyell, Lanice conchilega (Pallas), Arenicola marina (L.), Myxicola infundibulum Renier, Megalomma vesiculusom (Montagu), Sabella penicillus L., are compared: all show similarities in having well developed Golgi, granular endoplasmic reticulum and haemoglobin or chlorocruorin in vesicles, and numerous mitochondria. The porphyrin byproducts of synthesis are combined with iron as haematins within electrondense granules built up from multi-lamellar organelles. The structure of the basal lamina which alone separates the cells from the lumen of the vessels is described and evidence is presented for the method of release of the haem into the plasma by reverse pinocytosis. The cycle of synthesis within the cell is discussed and the process of haem synthesis in annelids is reviewed. The structure of the haemoglobin-containing coelomocytes of Neoamphitrite figulus is briefly described.This work was made possible by an award from the Science Research Council. We would also like to thank the Director and Staff of the Plymouth Laboratory, where some of the work was done, for their hospitality and facilities.     

Zur Funktion der Mikrotubuli beim Wachstum der Myofibrillen von Insektenflugmuskeln

Zusammenfassung In der indirekten Flugmuskulatur von Phormia terrae-novae kann die Entwicklung der Myofibrillen deutlich in eine Anlage- und eine Wachstums-Phase unterteilt werden. Zu Beginn der Wachstumsphase wurde Puppen eine Lösung von Colchicin in die rechte Metathoraxhälfte injiziert. Als Folge dieser Behandlung lösten sich zunächst die Mikrotubuli in der Flugmuskulatur auf. In späteren Entwicklungsstadien bildeten sich atypische Verzweigungen der Myofibrillen, die zu einer partiellen Desorientierung der kontraktilen Strukturen führten. Ein Mechanismus, der solche Störungen des Orientierungmusters in der Normalentwicklung möglicherweise verhindert, wird diskutiert.

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On the function of microtubules during the growth period of myofibrils in insect flight muscles

Summary In the blowfly Phormia terrae-novae the development of myofibrils of indirect flight muscles can be divided into periods of predisposition (anlage) and of growth. At the beginning of the growth period microtubules are disrupted by injection of colchicine. This disruption is followed by the formation of atypical ramifications of myofibrils at Z-discs leading to numerous disoriented myofibrils in late developmental stages. A possible mechanism preventing these alterations during normal development is discussed.

Herrn Prof. Dr. H. Brettschneider bin ich für den in großzügiger Weise überlassenen Arbeitsplatz am Elektronenmikroskop zu Dank verpflichtet. Fräulein H. Bock danke ich für ausgezeichnete Hilfe.     

Effect of transection at different levels of hypothalamus on the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the toad,Bufo bufo,with particular reference to the ultrastructure of the zona externa of the median eminence

Summary The ultrastructural changes taking place in the median eminence of Bufo bufo 3 hours to 4 months after transection of the brain at different levels, are described.5 types of neurons in the zona externa of the median eminence of normal toads are described. All types of neurons degenerate, and profound changes of the ultrastructure of the capillaries are observed after transection just behind, or immediately in front of the optic chiasma. A few neurons containing dense granules with a diameter of about 1,000–1,300 Å remain intact, however. The degeneration following denervation in front of the optic chiasma was considerably delayed compared to degeneration after denervation behind the optic chiasma.After transection more rostral to the optic chiasma, no significant degeneration of the median eminence was observed.The results are discussed with regard to degenerative dynamics and origin of the different nerve types. It is concluded, that all types of neurons terminating in the median eminence, originate at a level between the caudal and rostral parts of the preoptic nucleus, some fibres, however, containing dense, 1,000–1,300 Å granules, originate caudally to the optic chiasma, in the posterior hypothalamus.Part of this study was presented at the Vth International Symposium on Neurosecretion, Kiel, Germany, August 1969.     

黄瓜根尖分生组织细胞核仁超微结构类型及缺硼时的变化

硼是植物必需的一种微量元素,缺乏时植物根的生长被抑制。黄瓜根尖分生组织细胞核中核仁有四种类型。不缺硼的核仁中,丝状成分、粒状成分、丝状中心及核仁液泡能够明显地看到。缺硼的核仁中,丝状成分萎缩,变得粗短。看不见丝状中心、核仁液泡等。环形核仁中的中央大液泡变小。     

Cell multiplication and ultrastructure ofMicrasterias denticulata (Desmidiaceae) grown under salt stress

Cells ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. were kept in nutrient solution of high osmolality (salt stress) for four weeks. In a special cell multiplication test it was established that cell division is gradually inhibited at increasing salt concentrations and totally arrested at the highest concentration (26 mosm/kg). Recovery studies proved that even cells from the highest concentration range start dividing immediately after being placed in aqua bidest. thus indicating the full reversibility of the inhibiting effect. — Cells of the highest concentration range show marked ultrastructural changes. Besides an enormous accumulation of starch and oil bodies and a condensed appearance of the ground plasma, a reduction of mitochondria, ER and the Golgi-system is found. The most striking effect occurs on the vacuolar system which appears extremely reduced and condensed. The cell wall is thickened by the formation of an additional cell wall layer with a spongy electron microscopical appearance. Through the cell wall many droplets of a probably fat-like substance are excreted. — In summary, salt stress induces growth-inhibited akinete cells in the sense ofFritsch; these can be reactivated by decreasing the salt concentration. The salt-induced akinete state seems to be an ecological adaption to unfavourable conditions rather than a degeneration of the cells.Dedicated to Prof. DrLothar Geitler on the occasion of his 90th birthday.23. 12. 1988     

Polysaccharide and protein secretion by grass microhairs

Summary Secretory activities of bicellular microhairs from grasses belonging to the subfamilies Chloridoideae, Arundinoideae, Panicoideae, and Bambusoideae, and including the chloridoid, panicoid and Enneapogon microhair morphological types, have been investigated. Light microscopic histochemistry indicated that all microhairs studied secrete polysaccharide and protein (or glycoprotein), including those which also secrete salt. Localization of polysaccharide at ultrastructural level using periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazidesilver proteinate staining revealed that in panicoid type microhairs dictyosomes are involved in polysaccharide secretion, whereas in the chloridoid and Enneapogon types partitioning membranes seem to be involved instead.Abbreviations Ag silver precipitates representing localization of polysaccharide - BC basal cell - C cuticle - CC cap cell - CH cuticular chamber - CN system of membrane bound channels and vesicles - CP chloroplast - CW cell wall - D dictyosomes - M mitochondria - N nucleus - PTM partitioning membranes - RER rough endoplasmic reticulum - S secretory material - St starch grain - US unstained dictyosome cisternae - V vesicle     

Effects of temperature on cytomorphogenesis and ultrastructure ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb

Summary Exposure of growingMicrasterias cells to high (32°–36°C) and low (3°–10°C) temperatures produces changes in morphology that are accompanied by several ultrastructural alterations. Whereas low temperatures essentially cause simplification of cell ornamentation, a variety of cell malformations result from high temperature treatment. These are the loss of cell symmetry leading to markedly aberrant cell shapes and an increase of main lobes with reduced degree of differentiation. Preliminary studies indicate that a shift in the distribution of membrane-associated Ca²⁺ by elevated temperatures probably underlies these abnormal cytomorphogenetic events. Both, low and high temperature cause a reduction in size of the young half cell and affect cytoplasmic streaming. Moreover, nuclear migration is retarded and chloroplast arrangement is influenced by temperature treatment at both ranges. Growth velocity of primary wall responsible for cell shaping is increased at high and slowed down at low temperatures compared to cells grown at 20°C.The main ultrastructural alterations induced by high temperatures are an increase in amount and length of ER cisternae, the appearance of heat shock granule aggregations localized in the cytoplasm, a reduced number of ribosomes and polysomes, the presence of oil bodies in growing cells and a varying thickness of the primary wall. Influences of low temperatures on ultrastructure are less pronounced. They are manifested in the formation of large aggregations of ER cisternae slightly differing from those found in untreated cells, a disturbed arrangement of the microtubule system surrounding the nucleus and a decrease of the number of cell wall forming cytoplasmic vesicles.It is thought that most of the temperature effects are due to an influence on membranes probably an alteration of ionic currents and, in addition, a modulation of normal protein synthesis.Dedicated to my teacher Professor Oswald Kiermayer in deep gratitude     

Ultrastructure of ascospore delimitation in freeze substituted samples ofAscodesmis nigricans (Pezizales)

Summary Freeze substitution proved to be a valuable technique for studying the early stages of ascosporogenesis inAscodesmis nigricans. Our observations indicate that the ascus vesicle originated from the ascus plasma membrane. Invaginations of the plasma membrane produced ascus vesicle initials consisting of two closely spaced unit membranes. The appearance of the outer leaflet of each of these membranes was identical to that of the inner leaflet of the ascus plasma membrane. Apparent points of continuity between ascus vesicle initials and the plasma membrane were observed. Ascus vesicle initials accumulated in the ascus cytoplasm near the plasma membrane and then coalesced to form the ascus vesicle, a peripheral, cylinder-like structure consisting of two closely spaced unit membranes that extended from the ascus apex to the ascus base. The ascus vesicle then became invaginated in a number of regions and subsequently gave rise to eight sheet-like segments, or ascosporedelimiting membranes, that encircled uninucleate segments of cytoplasm forming ascospore initials. Like the ascus vesicle, each ascospore-delimiting membrane consisted of two closely spaced unit membranes, the inner of which became the ascospore plasma membrane. The ascospore wall then developed between the spore plasma membrane and the outer membrane. Many details of ascospore maturation were clearly visible in freeze substituted samples.     

几种哺乳动物精子顶体膜囊泡形成的研究

在猪、绵羊、地鼠这几种哺乳动物的精子体外获能后,在顶体反应的超显微结构中观察到:精子顶体膜囊泡化呈现多种形态,但囊泡都是由精子顶体的双层外膜多位点自我融合而形成的,质膜并不参与囊泡化,这一结果与前人报道的不同。     

天麻消化紫萁小菇及蜜环菌过程中细胞超微结构变化的研究

本文对天麻种子消化入侵的紫萁小菇菌丝及营养繁殖茎消化蜜环菌过程中,细胞超微结构的变化进行了研究。观察结果表明:紫萁小菇侵入种胚后,染菌胚细胞的细胞器逐渐消失,其细胞质产生囊状体起消化菌丝的作用,存在于胚细胞中的紫萁小菇菌丝有脱壁或失去细胞质成为空腔等变化;种子萌发形成的原球茎消化紫萁小菇的方式同胚萌发阶段类同。蜜环菌侵入原球茎分化的营养繁殖茎后,皮层细胞产生消化酶类颗粒或囊状体包围并分解蜜环菌菌丝;被皮层细胞消化的菌丝残物或部分菌丝进入皮层内面的大型细胞,此时大型细胞的代谢功能显著增强,该细胞中的各种水解酶颗粒及液泡等完成对菌体物质的最终同化。紫萁小菇及蜜环菌先后在天麻有性繁殖和无性繁殖阶段侵染供给其营养,但菌丝被消化过程中的细胞形态变化、被消化方式不完全一致。