scholarly journals ON THE FINE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF THE NUCLEAR ENVELOPE

1961 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Merriam

Nuclei from nearly ripe eggs of Rana pipiens were isolated and cleaned in 0.1 M KCl. The whole nucleus was then digested to various degrees with ribonuclease or trypsin, followed by washing and fixation in either osmium tetroxide or potassium permanganate. The nuclear envelope was dissected off, placed on a grid, air dried, and compared with undigested controls in the electron microscope. Some envelopes were dehydrated, embedded in methacrylate, and sectioned. Annuli around "pores" are composed of a substance or substances, at least partially fibrillar, which is preserved by osmium but lost during permanganate fixation. Material within the "pores" is also preserved by osmium but partially lost after permanganate. No evidence of granules or tubules in the annuli was found in air dried mounts although a granular appearance could be seen in tangentially oriented thin sections. Thin sections of isolated envelopes give evidence of diffuse material within the "pores" as well as a more condensed diaphragm across their waists. In whole mounts of the envelope the total density within "pores" is relatively constant from "pore" to "pore." All material within "pores," including the condensed diaphragm, is removable by trypsin digestion. Wispy material from the "pore" structure projects into the nucleus and annular material extends into the cytoplasm. Both annular and diaphragm materials remain with the envelope when it is isolated and are thus considered a part of its structure, not merely evidences of material passing through. There is no evidence of ribonuclease-removable material in any part of the "pore" complex.

1967 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 817-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Napolitano ◽  
Francis Lebaron ◽  
Joseph Scaletti

The fine structure of myelin was studied in glutaraldehyde-fixed rat sciatic nerves depleted of lipid by acetone, chloroform:methanol (2:1 v/v), and chloroform:methanol:concentrated HCl (200:100:1, v/v/v). One portion of each of these nerves, plus the extracts, was saponified and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for fatty acids. The remainder of each nerve was stained in osmium tetroxide in CCl4 (5g/100cc) and was embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections, examined in the electron microscope, revealed the preservation of myelin lamellar structure with a 170 A periodicity in nerves depleted of 98% of their lipids. Preservation of myelin lamellar structure depended on glutaraldehyde fixation and the introduction of osmium tetroxide in a nonpolar vehicle (CCl4) after the lipids had been extracted. It is concluded that the periodic lamellar structure in electron micrographs of myelin depleted of lipid results from the complexing of osmium tetroxide, plus uranyl and lead stains, with protein.


Author(s):  
C. N. Sun ◽  
C. Araoz ◽  
H. J. White

The ultrastructure of a cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor has been reported previously. In the present case, we will present some unusual previously unreported membranous structures and alterations in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the tumor cells.Specimens were cut into small pieces about 1 mm3 and immediately fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer for two hours, then post-fixed in 1% buffered osmium tetroxide for one hour. After dehydration, tissues were embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.In the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, we found paired cisternae (Fig. 1) and annulate lamellae (Fig. 2) noting that the annulate lamellae were sometimes associated with the outer nuclear envelope (Fig. 3). These membranous structures have been reported in other tumor cells. In our case, mitochondrial to nuclear envelope fusions were often noted (Fig. 4). Although this phenomenon was reported in an oncocytoma, their frequency in the present study is quite striking.


Author(s):  
Roberta M. Bruck

An unusual structure in the cochlea is the spiral limbus; this periosteal tissue consists of stellate fibroblasts and collagenous fibers embedded in a translucent ground substance. The collagenous fibers are arranged in vertical columns (the auditory teeth of Haschke). Between the auditory teeth are interdental furrows in which the interdental cells are situated. These epithelial cells supposedly secrete the tectorial membrane.The fine structure of interdental cells in the rat was reported by Iurato (1962). Since the mouse appears to be different, a description of the fine structure of mouse interdental cells' is presented. Young adult C57BL/6J mice were perfused intervascularly with 1% paraformaldehyde/ 1.25% glutaraldehyde in .1M phosphate buffer (pH7.2-7.4). Intact cochlea were decalcified in .1M EDTA by the method of Baird (1967), postosmicated, dehydrated, and embedded in Araldite. Thin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were examined in a Phillips EM-200 electron microscope.


Author(s):  
T. Guha ◽  
A. Q. Siddiqui ◽  
P. F. Prentis

Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is an economically important fish in Saudi Arabia. Elucidation of reproductive biology of this species is necessary for successful breeding program. In this paper we describe fine structure of testicular sperm cells in O, niloticus.Testes from young adult fish were fixed in gluteraldehyde (2%) and osmium tetroxide (1%), both in cacodyl ate buffer. Specimens were processed in the conventional way for electron microscopy and thin sections of tissues (obtained by cutting the blocks with a diamond knife) were stained by ura- nyl acetate and lead citrate. These were examined in a Carl Zeiss electron microscope operated at 40 kV to 60 kV. Sperm cells were obtained from testes by squeezing them in cacodyl ate buffer. They were fixed in gluteraldehyde (2%) in the same buffer, air dried, gold coated and then examined in a Philips scanning electron microscope (SEM) operated at 25kV.The spermatozoon of O. niloticus is consisting of head, midpiece and tail (Fig. 1).


Author(s):  
Julio Sepúlveda-Saavedra ◽  
Beatriz González-Corona ◽  
Víctor A. Tamez Rodríguez ◽  
Ma. Victoria Bermúdez de Rocha ◽  
Alfredo Piñeyro López

It has been shown in previous studies that the toxin T-514 isolated from K. humboldtiana induces severe damage to the lung in treated rodents. Histopathological findings include edema, and alveolar hemorrage. However, the ultraestructure of the lesion has not been investigated. In this study we used two species of rodents: Hamster and guinea pig, and a primate: Macaca fascicularis. Animals received different single dosis of the toxin via intraperitoneal. Control animals received only the vehicle (propylen glycol). Inmediately after spontaneous death, lung samples were fixed in Karnovsky-Ito fixative, post fixed in osmium tetroxide and embedded in epon. Thin sections were prepared with an Ultratome V LKB, stained with uranly acetate and lead citrate, and studied in an electron microscope Zeiss-EM109.


Author(s):  
W. P. Wergin ◽  
S. Roy ◽  
E. F. Erbe ◽  
C. A. Murphy ◽  
C. D. Pooley

Larvae of the nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser strain All, were cryofixed and freezesubstituted for 3 days in acetone containing 2% osmium tetroxide according to established procedures. Following chemical fixation, the nematodes were brought to room temperature, embedded in Spurr's medium and sectioned for observation with a Hitachi S-4100 field emission scanning electron microscope that was equipped with an Oxford CT 1500 Cryotrans System. Thin sections, about 80 nm thick, similar to those generally used in conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were mounted on copper grids and stained with uranyl acetate for 30 min and lead citrate for 5 min. Sections about 2 μm thick were also mounted and stained in a similar fashion. The grids were mounted on an Oxford grid holder, inserted into the microscope and onto a cryostage that was operated at ambient temperature. Thick and thin sections of the larvae were evaluated and photographed in the SEM at different accelerating voltages. Figs. 4 and 5 have undergone contrast conversion so that the images would resemble transmitted electron micrographs obtained with a TEM.


1964 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Herndon

This paper describes the fine structure of the granule cells, stellate neurons, astrocytes, Bergmann glia, oligodendrocytes, and microglia of the rat cerebellum after fixation by perfusion with buffered 1 per cent osmium tetroxide. Criteria are given for differentiating the various cell types, and the findings are correlated with previous light microscope and electron microscope studies of the cerebellum.


1955 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanford L. Palay ◽  
George E. Palade

1. Thin sections of representative neurons from intramural, sympathetic and dorsal root ganglia, medulla oblongata, and cerebellar cortex were studied with the aid of the electron microscope. 2. The Nissl substance of these neurons consists of masses of endoplasmic reticulum showing various degrees of orientation; upon and between the cisternae, tubules, and vesicles of the reticulum lie clusters of punctate granules, 10 to 30 mµ in diameter. 3. A second system of membranes can be distinguished from the endoplasmic reticulum of the Nissl bodies by shallower and more tightly packed cisternae and by absence of granules. Intermediate forms between the two membranous systems have been found. 4. The cytoplasm between Nissl bodies contains numerous mitochondria, rounded lipid inclusions, and fine filaments.


1970 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1041-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. McKeen

Osmiophilic bodies appear in parts of the colonial growth of Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. hordei Em Marchal culture CR3 growing on the susceptible commercial Keystone variety of barley. They are readily observed by the light and electron microscope after osmium tetroxide staining and are abundant in conidiophores, conidia, and mycelium except in haustorial mother cells, in which they are usually absent. The metabolism of haustorial mother cells is distinct and the fine structure of adjoining cells is frequently different. Osmiophilic bodies are absent from the growing hyphal tip, but gradually increase in number and size further back in the terminal cell. Electron micrographs show that they are intracytoplasmic, intravacuolar, and up to 1 μ in diameter. When the colony is washed with acetone or alcohol rather than with aqueous buffer, after glutaraldehyde fixation, before osmium tetroxide fixation, the osmiophilic bodies are removed, indicating that they are lipids. Fat stains, Sudan black B, and Sudan IV stain these bodies. Perhaps the water needs of the germinating conidium are met in part by the oxidation of fats.


1963 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. Drum

The cytoplasmic fine structure of the motile, pennate diatom, Nitzschia palea was studied in thin sections viewed in the electron microscope. The cells were fixed in OsO4, embedded in methacrylate, and immersed in 10 per cent hydrofluoric acid (HF) for 36 to 40 hours to remove the siliceous cell wall prior to sectioning. The HF treatment did not cause any obvious cytoplasmic damage. The dictyosome complex is perinuclear, and located only in the central cytoplasm. Mitochondria are sparse in the central cytoplasm, but abundant in the peripheral cytoplasm, and fill many of the transvacuolar cytoplasmic strands. Characteristic, amorphous oil bodies fill certain cytoplasmic strands and probably are not leucosin. The pyrenoid appears to be membrane limited, and oil droplets are found adjacent to the pyrenoid. The pyrenoid of another diatom, Cymbella affinis, is also membrane-limited. The membrane limiting the pyrenoid may be a composite of the terminal portions of chloroplast discs, facilitating rapid movement of photosynthate into the pyrenoid matrix, where the characteristic oil droplets may be formed. Carinal fibrils are found singly in each carinal pore, and may be involved in the locomotion of Nitzschia palea.


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