Formation of autophagosomes in the pinealocytes of the rat and Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): A lysosome wrapping mechanism?

Summary Autophagosome formation in rat and gerbil pinealocytes is described. It starts with the setting up of a tubular acid phosphatase-rich cisterna which gradually wraps around cytoplasmic areas to be catabolized. In light of obtained findings, it seems that the autophagosome formation in pinealocytes is a type of lysosome wrapping mechanism.     

Carbodithioate MeOBDCG for decreasing intracellular cadmium deposits in rats of different ages

The efficiency of chelating agents to remove aged intracellular deposits of cadmium in young and older rats was studied. The administration of the chelating agent sodiumN-(4-methoxybenzyl)-D-glucamine-N-carbodithioate monohydrate (MeOBDCG) 2 wk after a single intraperitoneal 115m Cd administration reduced the whole body, liver, and kidney retention in suckling rats to about 63, 42, and 71 percent and in older rats to 39, 17 and 76 percent of values obtained in respective controls. Chelation therapy was generally more effective in older than younger rats and the age-related effect was most pronounced in the liver. These results indicate that specific features of young organisms may significantly alter the effect of chelation treatment.     

Ultracytochemical localisation and comparison of adenyl cyclase activities in pineal bodies of Wistar rats and mongolian gerbils

Summary In the pineal bodies of Wistar rats and mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculati) the main concentration of adenyl cyclase was found in capillary endothelial cells, their basal laminae, pericapillary amorphous material and in nerve endings. In the intercellular clefts between the rat pineal cells there was no adenyl cyclase activity, but a considerable amount of this enzyme was detected in the gerbils. The adenyl cyclase lacks completely in the pinealocyte cytoplasms of both species. It was concluded that the gerbil pineal cells may be more reactive to various hormonal influence than those of the rat.With the technical assistance of Miss Ch. Thommen and Mr. P.-A. MilliquetDedicated to Professor Dr. med. O. Bucher on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Über die Wirkung von Epiphysenextrakt auf die Struktur der Epithelkörperchen der Ratte

Zusammenfassung Nach vierwöchiger Verabreichung von Epiphysentotalextrakt sind in den Epithelkörperchen der Ratte die folgenden Symptome einer Funktionsminderung nachzuweisen: Verkleinerung des Kernvolumens, Vermehrung des Bindegewebes, Herabsetzung der Leucylaminopeptidase-Konzentration, Kern- und Zytoplasmavakuolisation. Ferner wurde auch eine Labilität des Serumkalziumspiegels festgestellt. Die morphologischen Veränderungen an den Epithelkörperchen werden wahrscheinlich indirekt über eine Alteration des Mineralstoffwechsels verursacht.

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The influence of epiphysial extract on the parathyroid glands of the rat

Summary Application of total epiphysial extract over a period of 4 weeks induces in the parathyroid glands of rats the following symptoms: decrease of the nuclear volume, nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolisation, an increase of connective tissue, a marked loss of leucylaminopeptidase activity. A lability of the blood calcium values has been observed. Morphological alterations of the parathyroid gland are indirect caused by changes of the mineral metabolism.

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Stipendiat der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung. Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Bargmann danke ich für einen Arbeitsplatz im Anatomischen Institut der Universität Kiel.     

Ultracytochemistry of the synaptic ribbons in the rat pineal organ

Summary The synaptic complexes of the rat pinealocytes are neither cholinergic nor adrenergic. In the synaptic vesicles, a neurotransmitter carrier substance of lipid nature reacting with OsO₄-Zn I₂ mixture (similar to that present in both cholinergic and adrenergic vesicles) was not found.In addition, there were no indications of glucose-6-phosphatase or thiamine-pyrophosphatase activity in the synaptic vesicles. Thus, it appears that the synaptic vesicles do not originate from the rough or smooth endoplasmic reticulum.The synaptic ribbons do not contain carbohydrates, are of protein nature and possess some chemical resemblance to microtubules and microtubular bouquets.Appropriate ultracytochemical reactions have not shown detectable quantities of sodium and calcium ions in pinealocyte synaptic complexes.Grateful acknowledgment is made to Mr. P.-A. Milliquet for technical assistance and to Dr. T. Jalanti (C.M.E., Lausanne) for his help in the use of the X-ray microanalyser.Dedicated to Professor Dr. med. G. Töndury on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Ultracytochemical evidence for the presence of GERL in pinealocytes of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Summary Ultracytochemical reactions for the demonstration of acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase, as well as zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide impregnation, revealed the existence of GERL (Golgi apparatus — Endoplasmic Reticulum — Lysosomes) in pinealocytes of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). The spatial arrangement of this structure was studied on thick sections using a goniometric stage. Although it was not possible to determine whether GERL in pinealocytes belongs to the Golgi apparatus or to endoplasmic reticulum, it can be concluded that its presence in studied cells signifies that they are considerably more active synthetically than has been believed to date.     

Über Veränderungen der Epithelkörperchen nach Epiphysektomie

Zusammenfassung Nach der Epiphysektomie sind in den Epithelkörperchen der Ratte Symptome einer Funktionsteigerung festzustellen: Vergrößerung des Kernvolumens, verstärkte Kapillarisierung, erhöhte Konzentration der Leucylaminopeptidase, Vermehrung und Vergrößerung der Mitochondrien und Sekretgranula, Ausdehnung des Golgi-Komplexes und Erhöhung des Blutkalziumspiegels. Die funktionellen Beziehungen zwischen Zirbeldrüse und Epithelkörperchen sind indirekt; sie werden bei Änderungen in Mineralstoffwechsel histologisch und cytologisch faßbar.

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Summary After epiphysectomy in parathyroid glands of rats the following symptoms of hyperfunction are observed: an increase of nuclear volume and of capillarity, an augmentation of concentration of leucylaminopeptidase, an increase of number and growth of mitochondria and secretion granules, dilatation of the Golgi complex and an increase of blood calcium values. The functional relations between the epiphysis and the parathyroid glands are indirect. Morphological alterations of the parathyroid glands are caused by changes in the mineral metabolism.

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Stipendiat der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung. Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Bargmann danke ich für einen Arbeitsplatz im Anatomischen Institut der Universität Kiel.     

Morphometric and enzyme histochemical behaviour of the kidney of young rats before and after unilateral nephrectomy

Summary Four week old male Wistar rats were unilaterally nephrectomized, and one, two, four, fourteen, and twenty-eight days after the operation the remaining kidneys were removed for morphological examination—including measurement of diameters of the tubules—and for histochemical investigation of enzymatic activities in the nephrons. The following enzymes were examined: succinate DH, lactate DH, α-glycerophosphate DH, isocitrate DH, glucose-6-phosphate DH, cytochrome oxidase, adenosine triphosphatase, alkaline and acid phosphatases. In comparison with kidneys of control animals of the same age and sex, the hypertrophy of the remaining kidney was found to be, even in these young rats, entirely due to enlargement of preexisting nephrons. The measurements have indicated that the hypertrophy was most distinct between the second and fourth day after uninephrectomy. Four weeks after the operation the diameters of proximal and distal tubules were about 21% and 18% respectively bigger in the uninephrectomized animals than in the corresponding controls. This increase in size was accompanied by some changes in intensity of enzymatic staining reactions; after an intial diminishment, a graduate increase in activity of almost all the observed tubular enzymes was found; this seems to be the expression of the functional compensation by the remaining kidney. Paper dedicated to Professor Dr. Drs. h. c. W. Bargmann (Kiel) in honour of the 70th anniversary of his birthday.