scholarly journals The Macropodid Oesophagus. II. Morphological Studies of Its Adherent Bacteria using Light and Electron Microscopy

1984 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Obendorf

The bacterial population attached to the oesophageal lining in herbivorous macropods is described. This feature which occurs in both browsing and grazing macropodid species (Macropus, Seton ix, Thylogale and Wallabia) is demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. These studies have shown that the oesophagus may support a large and diverse population of bacterial forms, many of which have extracellular fibrous coats or homogeneous capsules. These coats and capsules appear to mediate the attachment of bacteria to the surface epithelium and to each other so that microcolonies or communities are formed. Such aggregations of bacteria are responsible for the greenish coloration of the oesophageal lining of these herbivorous species. Further examination of the bacterial association with oesophageal cells demonstrated that the bacteria did not invade the mucosa but merely colonized the superficial layer of cells. Cells with ruptured cell membranes were invaded by bacteria which appeared to digest the cytoplasmic contents. Sloughing of such cells provided a new surface for bacterial attachment and proliferation. The importance of this bacterial association is discussed in the light of the anatomical studies of the macropodid oesophagus and the known digestive processes of herbivorous macropods. It is proposed that this adaptation may have an important bearing on our knowledge of foregut fermentative digestion in macropods.

1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. S10-S13 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Doty ◽  
E. R. Morey-Holton ◽  
G. N. Durnova ◽  
A. S. Kaplansky

The Soviet biosatellite COSMOS 2044 carried adult rats on a spaceflight that lasted 13.8 days and was intended to repeat animal studies carried out on COSMOS 1887. Skeletal tissue and tendon from animals flown on COSMOS 2044 were studied by light and electron microscopy, histochemistry, and morphometric techniques. Studies were confined to the bone cells and vasculature from the weight-bearing tibias. Results indicated that vascular changes at the periosteal and subperiosteal region of the tibia were not apparent by light microscopy or histochemistry. However, electron microscopy indicated that vascular inclusions were present in bone samples from the flight animals. A unique combination of microscopy and histochemical techniques indicated that the endosteal osteoblasts from this same mid-diaphyseal region demonstrated a slight (but not statistically significant) reduction in bone cell activity. Electron-microscopic studies of the tendons from metatarsal bones showed a collagen fibril disorganization as a result of spaceflight. Thus changes described for COSMOS 1887 were present in COSMOS 2044, but the changes ascribed to spaceflight were not as evident.


Author(s):  
Odell T. Minick ◽  
Hidejiro Yokoo ◽  
Fawzia Batti

Vacuolated cells in the liver of young rats were studied by light and electron microscopy following the administration of vitamin A (200 units per gram of body weight). Their characteristics were compared with similar cells found in untreated animals.In rats given vitamin A, cells with vacuolated cytoplasm were a prominent feature. These cells were found mostly in a perisinusoidal location, although some appeared to be in between liver cells (Fig. 1). Electron microscopy confirmed their location in Disse's space adjacent to the sinusoid and in recesses between liver cells. Some appeared to be bordering the lumen of the sinusoid, but careful observation usually revealed a tenuous endothelial process separating the vacuolated cell from the vascular space. In appropriate sections, fenestrations in the thin endothelial processes were noted (Fig. 2, arrow).


Author(s):  
John H. L. Watson ◽  
John L. Swedo ◽  
M. Vrandecic

The ambient temperature and the nature of the storage fluids may well have significant effects upon the post-implantation behavior of venus autografts. A first step in the investigation of such effects is reported here. Experimental conditions have been set which approximate actual operating room procedures. Saphenous veins from dogs have been used as models in the experiments. After removal from the dogs the veins were kept for two hours under four different experimental conditions, viz at either 4°C or 23°C in either physiological saline or whole canine arterial blood. At the end of the two hours they were prepared for light and electron microscopy. Since no obvious changes or damage could be seen in the veins by light microscopy, even with the advantage of tissue specific stains, it was essential that the control of parameters for successful grafts be set by electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
Joseph M. Harb ◽  
James T. Casper ◽  
Vlcki Piaskowski

The application of tissue culture and the newer methodologies of direct cloning and colony formation of human tumor cells in soft agar hold promise as valuable modalities for a variety of diagnostic studies, which include morphological distinction between tumor types by electron microscopy (EM). We present here two cases in which cells in culture expressed distinct morphological features not apparent in the original biopsy specimen. Evaluation of the original biopsies by light and electron microscopy indicated both neoplasms to be undifferentiated sarcomas. Colonies of cells propagated in soft agar displayed features of rhabdomyoblasts in one case, and cultured cells of the second biopsy expressed features of Ewing's sarcoma.


Author(s):  
J.C.S. Kim ◽  
M.G. Jourden ◽  
E.S. Carlisle

Chronic exposure to nitrogen dioxide in rodents has shown that injury reaches a maximum after 24 hours, and a reparative adaptive phase follows (1). Damage occurring in the terminal bronchioles and proximal portions of the alveolar ducts in rats has been extensively studied by both light and electron microscopy (1).The present study was undertaken to compare the response of lung tissue to intermittent exposure to 10 ppm of nitrogen dioxide gas for 4 hours per week, while the hamsters were on a vitamin A deficient diet. Ultrastructural observations made from lung tissues obtained from non-gas exposed, hypovitaminosis A animals and gas exposed animals fed a regular commercially prepared diet have been compared to elucidate the specific effect of vitamin A on nitrogen dioxide gas exposure. The interaction occurring between vitamin A and nitrogen dioxide gas has not previously been investigated.


Author(s):  
J. A. Pollock ◽  
M. Martone ◽  
T. Deerinck ◽  
M. H. Ellisman

Localization of specific proteins in cells by both light and electron microscopy has been facilitate by the availability of antibodies that recognize unique features of these proteins. High resolution localization studies conducted over the last 25 years have allowed biologists to study the synthesis, translocation and ultimate functional sites for many important classes of proteins. Recently, recombinant DNA techniques in molecular biology have allowed the production of specific probes for localization of nucleic acids by “in situ” hybridization. The availability of these probes potentially opens a new set of questions to experimental investigation regarding the subcellular distribution of specific DNA's and RNA's. Nucleic acids have a much lower “copy number” per cell than a typical protein, ranging from one copy to perhaps several thousand. Therefore, sensitive, high resolution techniques are required. There are several reasons why Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscopy (IVEM) and High Voltage Electron Microscopy (HVEM) are most useful for localization of nucleic acids in situ.


Author(s):  
D. E. Philpott ◽  
W. Sapp ◽  
C. Williams ◽  
Joann Stevenson ◽  
S. Black

The response of spermatogonial cells to X-irradiation is well documented. It has been shown that there is a radiation resistent stem cell (As) which, after irradiation, replenishes the seminiferous epithelium. Most investigations in this area have dealt with radiation dosages of 100R or more. This study was undertaken to observe cellular responses at doses less than 100R of X-irradiation utilizing a system in which the tissue can be used for light and electron microscopy.Brown B6D2F1 mice aged 16 weeks were exposed to X-irradiation (225KeV; 15mA; filter 0.35 Cu; 50-60 R/min). Four mice were irradiated at each dose level between 1 and 100 rads. Testes were removed 3 days post-irradiation, fixed, and embedded. Sections were cut at 2 microns for light microscopy. After staining, surviving spermatogonia were identified and counted in tubule cross sections. The surviving fraction of spermatogonia compared to control, S/S0, was plotted against dose to give the curve shown in Fig. 1.


Author(s):  
J. A. Traquair ◽  
E. G. Kokko

With the advent of improved dehydration techniques, scanning electron microscopy has become routine in anatomical studies of fungi. Fine structure of hyphae and spore surfaces has been illustrated for many hyphomycetes, and yet, the ultrastructure of the ubiquitous soil fungus, Geomyces pannorus (Link) Sigler & Carmichael has been neglected. This presentation shows that scanning and transmission electron microscopical data must be correlated in resolving septal structure and conidial release in G. pannorus.Although it is reported to be cellulolytic but not keratinolytic, G. pannorus is found on human skin, animals, birds, mushrooms, dung, roots, and frozen meat in addition to various organic soils. In fact, it readily adapts to growth at low temperatures.


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