On the structure of the human striate area. Lamina IVcβ

Summary Layer IVc of the human striate area consists mainly of a great number of small spinous local circuit neurons which store numerous characteristic lipofuscin granules. Since the neurons of the neighbouring layers are almost devoid of pigment deposits the boundaries of lamina IVc are easily traceable. Hence, the pigment granules can be used as internal markers to unequivocally identify these small pigmented spinous local circuit neurons of lamina IVc in ultrathin sections. They have a large spherical nucleus surrounded by a narrow cytoplasmic rim poor in organelles, and very scarcely receive axosomatic symmetric synapses.Within layer IVc four types of synaptic boutons can be distinguished. Type-1-boutons are large, contain a few and loosely arranged round vesicles and make asymmetric synaptic contacts with dendrites and dendritic spines. The type-2-boutons which are also large are filled with densely packed round vesicles which accumulate at the presynaptic membrane. The large type-3-boutons are characterized by elongated vesicles and symmetric synaptic contact zones. These boutons generate several fingerlike protrusions. Small profiles which contain elongated vesicles and form symmetric synaptic contacts, are most probably parts of these protrusions. The large amount of small boutons with round vesicles and asymmetric synaptic contact zones are tentatively described as type-4-boutons although it is far from certain that they represent a uniform class. The presumable origins of the different types of boutons are discussed.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Br. 634/1)Dedicated to Prof. Dr. med. H. Leonhardt in honor of his 60th birthday     

Studies on secretory glycoproteins in the rat exocrine pancreas

Summary Using a double-label technique on isolated rat pancreatic lobules, the rate of synthesis and discharge of regular and fucosylated secretory proteins was studied under control conditions and after in vivo prestimulation with caerulein. Both labeled leucine and fucose were incorporated into pancreatic proteins at a linear rate, which was potentiated by in vivo stimulation. In pulse-chase experiments both regular and fucosylated secretory proteins were discharged into the medium in parallel. The in vivo pretreatment with caerulein caused an earlier discharge and increased the total amount released. Kinetic analysis of unstimulated (baseline) discharge of both classes of secretory proteins indicated a striking in vitro sensitivity by the previous in vivo treatment with caerulein.The biochemical data were compared to the fine structure of the Golgi complex under both control and prestimulated conditions. The Golgi stacks were composed of four to six individual cisternae which in some cases were connected by intercisternal pores. Transporting vesicles were observed fusing along the total length of the outermost cisterna on both the cis- and transside and with the lateral ends of the intermediate cisternae. Under control conditions only the last trans-cisterna contained some electron opaque material; in vivo prestimulation led to distension and filling of all cisternae in an individual Golgi-unit. Numerous stages of transformation of the last transcisterna into condensing vacuoles were observed, lending support to the hypothesis that during packaging of secretory products the membranes of the Golgi complex undergo a continuous turnover.Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn-Bad-Godesberg (Ke 113/10). The competent technical assistance of Miss Hiltraud Hosser and Miss Helga Hollerbach and the editorial help of Miss Annemarie Erben is gratefully acknowledged     

Neurotransmitters regulate rhythmic size changes amongst cells in the fly's optic lobe

Axon calibre in monopolar cells L1 and L2 of the fly's lamina can change dynamically. Swelling by day, L2 exhibits a daily rhythm of changing size apparntly mediated by wide-field LBO5HT and PDH cells. L1/L2 axon profiles were measured planimetrically in the housefly, Musca domestica, from 1 m cross sections. Four hours after injecting 80–100 nl of 1.25 × 10^–4 M 5-HT into the optic lobe, L1's axon swelled but L2's did not, whereas 2.2 × 10^–5 M of PDH enlarged both axons. Similar to 5-HT, 1.63 × 10^–4 M histamine (the photoreceptor transmitter) enlarged L1 but not L2, mimicking light exposure, while 1.7 × 10^–4 M glutamate and 1.94 × 10^–4 M GABA both decreased L1 and L2. 2.5 × 10^–4 M of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine decreased L2 and, somewhat, L1, an effect attributable to the loss of LBO5HT neurites. Twenty four hours after cutting LBO5HT and PDH commissural pathways, L1 and L2 both shrank. Apparently, L2's size depends on either LBO5HT or sufficient 5-HT, and L1 and L2 have different response ranges to 5-HT. Responses to PDH imply that daytime PDH release drives a circadian rhythm, enlarging L1 and L2.Abbreviations ERG electroretinogram - GABA -aminobutyric acid - PDH pigment-dispersing hormone - PDF pigment-dispersing factor - 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine - EM electron microscopy(ic)     

Spectral sensitivities of photoreceptors and lamina monopolar cells in the dragonfly,Hemicordulia tau

Summary Five spectral types of photoreceptors with peak sensitivities at 330 nm, 410 nm, 460 nm, 525 nm and 630 nm were recorded from the ventral eye of the dragonfly, Hemicordulia tau. Often the 525 nm photoreceptors presented broader, and the 630 nm photoreceptors narrower, spectral sensitivities than would be excepted of a photopigment with the same peak sensitivity. Four types of lamina monopolar cells (cell types 1–4) were recognised from their dark-adapted spectral sensitivities and their anatomy. The anatomical identification allows tentative assignation to the monopolar cell classification from Sympetrum rubicundulum obtained using Golgi staining (Meinertzhagen and Armett-Kibel 1982). When dark-adapted, the monopolar cells had peak spectral sensitivities that were similar to single photoreceptors or appeared to pool receptor outputs, but in some cases spectral sensitivity changed markedly upon adaptation to white and to chromatic light, in one case (cell type 2) apparently switching off a UV-sensitive input.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES-M_(13))核骨架-核纤层-中间纤维结构体系的研究

本文使用细胞的选择性抽提、DGD包埋去包埋电镜制样、免疫荧光和免疫印迹技术研究了小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES-Ml_(13))的核骨架-核纤层-中间纤维(NM-L-IF)结构体系。在电镜下可以看到,ES细胞存在精细发达的核骨架结构,核骨架纤维同核纤层结构相连接,细胞质中有许多直径为10nm的中间纤维单丝。在免疫荧光分析中,使用角蛋白单克隆抗体有阳性反应,细胞质区域可以看到较强的荧光,没有极性分布现象,也没有观察到纤维状的荧光染色。ES细胞对波形蛋白和结蛋白抗体呈阴性反应,同对照组一样,只能看到非特异性的很微弱的荧光染色。在免疫印迹分析中,使用角蛋白单克隆抗体AF6检测到三条角蛋白多肽,分子量分别为65KD,62KD和52KD。     

淮北相山恢复演替群落优势树种叶片的生态解剖

对淮北相山混交林5个优势种叶片的生态解剖学观察表明,其叶片结构具有一定的旱生特征:表皮具发达的表皮毛或角质层,全栅等面叶或具发达的栅栏组织,维管组织发达。牡荆(Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia)和酸枣(Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa)作为两个广布优势树种,叶片结构表现出很大的可塑性:1)同一群落环境(混交林)中,叶片结构随着季节的变化表现出发育可塑性(5月初的叶片比9月中旬更具有阳生叶的特点);2)不同恢复演替阶段的群落中,叶片结构随着群落环境的变化表现出环境可塑性,其变化趋势为:灌草丛(旱生/阳生)-灌丛(旱生/阳生)-落叶疏林(中生/阳生)-人工侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)林(中生/阴生)。这种可塑性既是植物适应其异质生境的一种重要机制,同时又是不同群落环境的反映。非参数相关分析表明,牡荆和酸枣的叶片结构受多个生态因子综合影响,其中水分和风速是影响叶片结构的主导因子。叶片的上表皮角质层厚度、气孔器密度、栅栏组织厚度、叶片厚度、木质部厚度、韧皮部厚度、维管束厚度等性状均与土壤含水量和空气相对湿度呈显著负相关,与风速呈显著正相关。     

Different retina-lamina projections in mosquitoes with fused and open rhabdoms

Anopheles gambiae and Toxorhynchites brevipalpis represent the nocturnal and diurnal extremes of the mosquito light intensity range, and their eyes are structurally very different. A. gambiae has fused rhabdoms with huge acceptance angles, whereas T. brevipalpis has open rhabdoms with rhabdomere acceptance angles comparable with those of advanced (brachyceran) flies. Here, we show that the retina-lamina projections are consistent with these differences. The short receptor axons from each ommatidium in A. gambiae insert as a group between four lamina monopolar cell clusters. In T. brevipalpis axon bundles from each ommatidium undergo a twist in their passage through the nuclear layer of the lamina, and then fan out into a space the diameter of which is about twice the separation of the monopolar cell clusters. This arrangement is consistent with a neural superposition mechanism closely similar to that found in higher Diptera, but which must have evolved independently.     

BAFF induces a hyper-IgA syndrome in the intestinal lamina propria concomitant with IgA deposition in the kidney independent of LIGHT

BAFF is a peripheral B cell survival factor and can mediate antibody (Ab) class switching. Over-expression of BAFF in mice results in B cell hyperplasia, elevated serum immunoglobulin (Ig), spontaneous germinal centre (GC) reactions and mild glomerulonephritis (GN). Here we show that, in addition to driving excessive levels of serum IgA, BAFF over-expression results in increased IgA levels within the intestinal lamina propria (LP) and deposition of IgA immune complexes in the renal glomerular mesangium. LIGHT has been previously shown to mediate a similar phenotype via signaling through the lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTbetaR). We evaluated if LIGHT and BAFF cooperate in the etiology of a hyper-IgA syndrome in BAFF-overexpressing transgenic (BAFF-Tg) mice. We find that LIGHT-deficient BAFF-Tg mice exhibit similar levels of IgA in the serum, gut and kidney and develop nephritis to the same degree as LIGHT-sufficient BAFF-Tg mice. Therefore, in the context of BAFF over-expression, LIGHT is dispensable for the generation of a hyper-IgA syndrome accompanied by nephritis.