scholarly journals FINE STRUCTURE OF THE RETINULAE IN THE COMPOUND EYE OF THE HONEY-BEE

1962 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy H. Goldsmith

The retinula of the compound eye of the worker honey-bee has been examined with the electron microscope. The rhabdom lies on the ommatidial axis; it is usually cylindrical in shape, about 3 to 4 µ in diameter, and lacks an axial cavity. Cross-sections show it to be four parted, although it is formed from eight retinular cells (Figs. 2, 3). Each quadrant of the rhabdom consists of a closely packed parallel array of tubules with long axes perpendicular to the axis of the rhabdom. The tubules in adjacent quadrants of the rhabdom are mutually perpendicular. At the distal end of the ommatidium these tubules are seen to be microvilli of the retinular cells. Immediately surrounding the rhabdom, the cytoplasm of the retinular cells contains a membranous endoplasmic reticulum which is oriented approximately radially with respect to the axis of the ommatidium. Farther away from the rhabdom the cytoplasm contains numerous mitochondria.

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1454-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail E. O'Grady ◽  
Susan B. McIver

The fine structure of the ommatidia in light- and dark-adapted eyes of male and female Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The male eye is divided into distinct dorsal and ventral regions. The facets in the dorsal region are approximately two times larger than those in the ventral one, which are similar in size to the ones in the female eye. All ommatidia of S. vittatum examined consist of two general regions: a distal dioptric apparatus with bordering primary and accessory pigment and Semper cells, and a sensory receptor layer. Each ommatidium in the female eye and ventral eye of the male has eight retinular cells (R cells): six peripheral (R1–6) and two central (R7, R8). R7 occurs distally and R8 basally. Strikingly, the ommatidia in the dorsal eye of the male lack the R7 cell. In all ommatidia, rhabdomeres on the inner surface of the peripheral R cells are separate throughout their length, creating an open rhabdom. A greater diameter of corneal facets, elongated peripheral R cells, and perhaps the lack of the R7 cell are specializations of the dorsal region of the eye that help the male to detect small, rapidly moving females against the skylight as they fly above the swarm of males. Differences observed between light- and dark-adapted eyes of male and female S. vittatum were the same and were associated with the internal components of the peripheral R cells.


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.


Development ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-326
Author(s):  
Lennart Nicander ◽  
Björn A. Afzelius ◽  
Inger Sjödén

Fertilization is accompanied by changes in the structure of the egg cytoplasm (cf. Rothschild, 1958; Raven, 1961). At the level of fine structure such changes have mainly been studied in some marine invertebrates with small eggs that can easily be fertilized in vitro (Pasteels & de Harven, 1963; Schäfer, 1966). Vertebrate eggs are less favourable in this respect, but electron microscope studies have been made on eggs of mammals (Fléchon, 1966; Zamboni & Mastroianni, 1966; Zamboni, Mishell, Bell & Baca, 1966) and Xenopus (van Gansen, 1966). Changes generally observed soon after fertilization include the formation of polysomes or an increase in their number, a hypertrophy of the Golgi complexes, and the appearance of granulated endoplasmic reticulum and annulate lamellae. Afzelius (1957) observed the dispersal of mitochondria in fertilized sea-urchin eggs. Pasteels & de Harven (1963) reported that the structure and distribution of cytoplasmic organelles in eggs of the bivalve mollusc, Barnea Candida, are not altered by fertilization.


1972 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 997-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. L. Stevenson ◽  
S. A. W. E. Becker

Methods have been developed for the rapid, reproducible induction of high-density populations of F. oxysporum chlamydospores. On transferring washed pregerminated conidia to a simple two-salts medium, chlamydospore morphogenesis was evident by 12 h and masses of mature spores could be harvested at the end of 4 days. Electron-microscope studies of thin sections of mature chlamydospores reveal a thick triple-layered cell wall. The cytoplasm contains, in addition to large lipid deposits, a nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum all typical of fungal cells. Chlamydospores of F. oxysporum exhibit two distinct types of cell surface in thin section. The outer wall layer of two of the isolates studied was smooth-surfaced while the outer layer of the two other isolates was distinctly fibrillose. Some evidence is presented suggesting that the fibrillose material arises through the partial breakdown of the original hyphal wall.


1969 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 699-726
Author(s):  
LOWELL E. DAVIS

The differentiation of neurosensory cells in Hydra has been studied at the level of the electron microscope. These cells arise from interstitial cells (undifferentiated cells) and not from pre-existing nerve cells. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that neurosensory cells represent a stage in the development of other nerve cells, i.e. ganglionic and neurosecretory cells. Major cytoplasmic changes in fine structure during differentiation include development of a cilium and associated structures (basal body, basal plate, rootlets), development of microtubules and at least two neurites, increase in Golgi lamellae and formation of dense droplets typical of neurosecretory droplets, structural variations in mitochondria and a decrease in the number of ribosomes. Granular endoplasmic reticulum is characteristically poorly developed in all stages of differentiation, including the mature neurosensory cell. Nuclear and nucleolar changes also occur during differentiation but these are less dramatic than the cytoplasmic events. The possibility of neurosensory cells being bi- or multiciliated and the presence of intercellular bridges between these cells are considered. The function of neurosensory cells is discussed briefly in relation to the function of the cilium and neurosecretory droplets.


1961 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
George B. Chapman ◽  
Alden B. Dawson

Small pieces of skin from 8 cm long Rana clamitans larvae were fixed in OsO4, washed, dehydrated, and embedded in a methacrylate mixture. Ultrathin sections were cut on a Porter-Blum ultramicrotome and were examined in an RCA electron microscope, type EMU 2D. The sections showed that aggregates of fibrous material in the cells of the inner layer of epidermal cells are identical in disposition and size with the classical figures of Eberth. It is conclusively shown that these figures do not arise from an aggregation of mitochondrial filaments. The tendency of the fibrils to concentrate on attachment points, or thickenings of the basal plasma membrane, is noted. It is also observed that numerous mitochondria are located in the distal region of the cells of the outer layer of epidermis in association with the secretory vacuoles. Microvilli are seen occasionally on the free surface of the skin. Cisternae are found only in the cells of the outer epidermal layer, while vesicular endoplasmic reticulum is found in the cells of both epidermal layers.


1959 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Edwards

The detailed structure of nerve branches, neuromuscular junctions, and muscle fibers of a multiterminal innervation of cockroach abdominal muscle has been studied with the electron microscope. The muscle fiber is of the banded myofibril type; with paired mitochondria and abundant endoplasmic reticulum. The peripheral nerve branches are multiaxonal with large central axon and several small peripheral tunicated axons. Tracheoblasts closely accompany the nerve branches. The multiple neuromuscular junctions show typical axonal vesicles, muscle aposynaptic granules, and close plasma membrane apposition with no interposition of basement membrane material.


1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvin S. Fuller ◽  
Rudolf E. Reichle

Zoospores of Monoblepharella sp. a representative of the order Monoblepharidales, no members of which had ever been studied with the electron microscope, were fixed with glutaraldehyde, followed by OsO4, and their ultrastructure is described. The kinetosome, to which the flagellum is attached, has the appearance of a centriole in cross section. Radiating laterally from the kinetosome is a striated disc which is anchored in a pair of annular lamellae. Microtubules run forward in the cell from a ring in the striated disc. The nucleus is surrounded by a concentration of ribosomes, the latter being partially surrounded and traversed by membranous elements. The zoospores of this Monoblepharella sp. do not have a nuclear cap of the type found in the Blastocladiales. The nature and phylogenetic distribution of nuclear caps in the aquatic fungi is discussed. A highly organized tubular structure at the posterior end of the zoospores is described and its possible function as a photosensitive structure discussed. At encystment the flagellum is withdrawn and cross sections of the flagellum are shown within cysts.


1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 1329-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Manocha

The fine structure in the carpophore of the mushroom, Agaricus campestris, was studied with the electron microscope. The stipe consists of two types of cells (i) fundamental and (ii) long and thread-like. The pileus contains only the first type. The tramal cells of the gills are more elongated than broad, regularly arranged, and rich in cytoplasmic contents. The cross wall of the hyphal cells shows a conspicuous pore apparatus with dark septal swellings encased in the plasma membrane. The nuclear membranes are differentiated early during nuclear division and are highly alveolated around the interphase nucleus. In the maturing basidium, the mitochondria increase in number by division of pre-existing ones, and thus become small with few cristae. Numerous vacuoles appear in the upper portion of the basidium. Oil globules are also produced in the mature basidium but were not observed during the early stages of development of the basidium or in any other part of the carpophore. The young basidium has food reserve which is granular in nature. The basidiospore contains numerous large oil globules, few mitochondria, scanty endoplasmic reticulum, and a wall of three well-defined layers.


1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherwin S. Desser ◽  
K. A. Wright

The major features of the cytology of oökinetes, oöcysts, and sporozoites of Leucocytozoon simondi Mathis and Leger as seen in KMnO4-fîxed midguts of Simulium rugglesi and examined in the electron microscope, are related to their appearance in Giemsa-stained light microscope preparations. Thus, blue-staining regions of oökinete and oöcyst and the posterior, darkly stained region of sporozoites correspond to regions of endoplasmic reticulum; light "vacuole-like" regions correspond to accumulations of dense material which were not membrane enclosed; and minute red-stained spots at the anterior tip of sporozoites correspond to paired organelles. The dense material of oökinetes which, in oöcysts, is segregated into developing sporozoites may function as an energy source for sporozoites. The structure and development of these stages is similar to that of Plasmodium spp. The oöcyst of L. simondi develops extracellularly, enclosed by the basal lamina of the midgut with most of its surface surrounded by the basal cell membrane of midgut epithelial cells. This location of the oöcyst may be important in determining the subsequent pattern of development of this species.


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