scholarly journals THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE BASEMENT MEMBRANE IN EPIDERMAL TUMORS

1962 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. Frei

Epidermal tumors were induced in Swiss female mice by a topical application of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene solution followed by repeated applications of croton oil solutions. Fourteen benign and malignant tumors were sampled 25 weeks after the treatment had begun, fixed in osmium tetroxide or potassium permanganate, and embedded in Epon. Sections stained with lead hydroxide were examined. In three tumors defects of the epidermal basement membrane were seen. These defects accompanied local invasion of the tumors. The possible mechanisms of the development of this unusual anatomical situation are discussed.

1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 2559-2564 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Setliff ◽  
W. L. MacDonald ◽  
R. F. Patton

The septal pore apparatus was studied in Poria latemarginata, Polyporus tomentosus, and Rhizoctonia solani. Fixation by potassium permanganate was compared with fixation by glutaraldehyde – osmium tetroxide. Potassium permanganate reduced the size of the septal swelling about 50% and destroyed much of the internal integrity of the septal swelling. In glutaraldehyde – osmium tetroxide fixed material, a fibrillar network extended from the cross wall throughout the septal swelling. Except for this network, the septal swelling was electron transparent and similar in appearance to a vacuole. A rim of electronopaque material, attached to the septal swelling, surrounded the pore mouth in Polyporus tomentosus and Rhizoctonia solani.


1962 ◽  
Vol s3-103 (61) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
S.R. S. RANGAN ◽  
SATYAVATI M. SIRSAT

The chorio-allantoic membranes of White Leghorn chick embryos at 10 to 12 days after laying were fixed in Palade's buffered osmium tetroxide or in Luft's potassium permanganate. After fixation in these two ways the general appearance is similar, but there are differences in certain tissue elements. Cell membranes are well preserved after fixation in KMnCv Certain lipid inclusions in the cytoplasm of the cells of the allantoic layer are well seen after fixation by OsO4, but not after KMnO4; in their places empty vacuoles are seen. Details of the structure of the red blood-corpuscles are more clearly seen after fixation in KMnO4.


1963 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit M. K. Nass ◽  
Sylvan Nass

Chick embryo mitochondria, studied with the electron microscope, show crista-free areas of low electron opacity. These areas are observable after fixation with osmium tetroxide, calcium permanganate, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde, acrolein, acrolein followed by osmium tetroxide, uranyl acetate followed by calcium permanganate, and acetic acid-alcohol. Staining of sections with lead hydroxide or uranyl acetate, or with both, resulted in an increased density of a fibrous material within these areas. The appearance of the fibrous structures varied with the fixative employed; after fixation with osmium tetroxide the material was clumped and bar-like (up to 400 A in diameter), whereas after treatment of osmium tetroxide-fixed tissues with uranyl acetate before dehydration the fibrous structures could be visualized as 15 to 30 A fibrils. Treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) in place of uranyl acetate coarsened the mitochondrial fibrils. After fixation with calcium permanganate or potassium permanganate, or a double fixation by uranyl acetate followed by calcium permanganate, the fibers appeared to have a pattern and ultrastructure similar to that observed after the osmium tetroxide-uranyl acetate technique, except that some of them had a slightly greater diameter (up to 50 A). Other fixatives did not preserve the fibers so well. The fibers appeared strongly clumped by formaldehyde fixation, and were difficult to identify after fixation with acrolein or acetic acid-alcohol. The staining of nucleic acid-containing structures by uranyl acetate and lead hydroxide was improved by treatment of osmium tetroxide-fixed sections with hydrogen peroxide, and the mitochondrial fibers also had an increased density in the electron beam after this procedure. The staining characteristics suggest the fibrous material of chick embryo mitochondria to be a nucleic acid-containing structure, and its variable appearance after different fixations parallels that previously reported, or described in this paper, for the nucleoplasm of bacteria and blue-green algae. The results, in addition to those described in the accompanying communication, indicate that these mitochondria contain DNA.


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.


Author(s):  
Larry F. Lemanski ◽  
Eldridge M. Bertke ◽  
J. T. Justus

A recessive mutation has been recently described in the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum; in which the heart forms structurally, but does not contract (Humphrey, 1968. Anat. Rec. 160:475). In this study, the fine structure of myocardial cells from normal (+/+; +/c) and cardiac lethal mutant (c/c) embryos at Harrison's stage 40 was compared. The hearts were fixed in a 0.1 M phosphate buffered formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde-picric acid-styphnic acid mixture and were post fixed in 0.1 M s-collidine buffered 1% osmium tetroxide. A detailed study of heart development in normal and mutant embryos from stages 25-46 will be described elsewhere.


Author(s):  
Al W. Stinson

The stratified squamous epithelium which lines the ruminal compartment of the bovine stomach performs at least three important functions. (1) The upper keratinized layer forms a protective shield against the rough, fibrous, constantly moving ingesta. (2) It is an organ of absorption since a number of substances are absorbed directly through the epithelium. These include short chain fatty acids, potassium, sodium and chloride ions, water, and many others. (3) The cells of the deeper layers metabolize butyric acid and to a lesser extent propionic and acetic acids which are the fermentation products of rumen digestion. Because of the functional characteristics, this epithelium is important in the digestive process of ruminant species which convert large quantities of rough, fibrous feed into energy.Tissue used in this study was obtained by biopsy through a rumen fistula from clinically healthy, yearling holstein steers. The animals had been fed a typical diet of hay and grain and the ruminal papillae were fully developed. The tissue was immediately immersed in 1% osmium tetroxide buffered to a pH of 7.4 and fixed for 2 hrs. The tissue blocks were embedded in Vestapol-W, sectioned with a Porter-Blum microtome with glass knives and stained with lead hydroxide. The sections were studied with an RCA EMU 3F electron microscope.


Author(s):  
John H.L. Watson ◽  
John L. Swedo ◽  
R.W. Talley

A preliminary study of human mammary carcinoma on the ultrastructural level is reported for a metastatic, subcutaneous nodule, obtained as a surgical biopsy. The patient's tumor had responded favorably to a series of hormonal therapies, including androgens, estrogens, progestins, and corticoids for recurring nodules over eight years. The pertinent nodule was removed from the region of the gluteal maximus, two weeks following stilbestrol therapy. It was about 1.5 cms in diameter, and was located within the dermis. Pieces from it were fixed immediately in cold fixatives: phosphate buffered osmium tetroxide, glutaraldehyde, and paraformaldehyde. Embedment in each case was in Vestopal W. Contrasting was done with combinations of uranyl acetate and lead hydroxide.


1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 1141-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Wayner ◽  
S G Gil ◽  
G F Murphy ◽  
M S Wilke ◽  
W G Carter

The cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL), typified by mycosis fungoides, and several chronic T cell mediated dermatoses are characterized by the migration of T lymphocytes into the epidermis (epidermotropism). Alternatively, other types of cutaneous inflammation (malignant cutaneous B cell lymphoma, CBCL, or lymphocytoma cutis, non-malignant T or B cell type) do not show evidence of epidermotropism. This suggests that certain T lymphocyte subpopulations are able to interact with and penetrate the epidermal basement membrane. We show here that T lymphocytes derived from patients with CTCL (HUT 78 or HUT 102 cells), adhere to the detergent-insoluble extracellular matrix prepared from cultured basal keratinocytes (HFK ECM). HUT cell adhesion to HFK ECM was inhibitable with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to the alpha 3 (P1B5) or beta 1 (P4C10) integrin receptors, and could be up-regulated by an activating anti-beta 1 mAb (P4G11). An inhibitory mAb, P3H9-2, raised against keratinocytes identified epiligrin as the ligand for alpha 3 beta 1 positive T cells in HFK ECM. Interestingly, two lymphocyte populations could be clearly distinguished relative to expression of alpha 3 beta 1 by flow cytometry analysis. Lymphokine activated killer cells, alloreactive cytotoxic T cells and T cells derived from patients with CTCL expressed high levels of alpha 3 beta 1 (alpha 3 beta 1high). Non-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells, acute T or B lymphocytic leukemias, or non-cutaneous T or B lymphocyte cell lines expressed low levels of alpha 3 beta 1 (alpha 3 beta 1low). Resting PBL or alpha 3 beta 1low T or B cell lines did not adhere to HFK ECM or purified epiligrin. However, adhesion to epiligrin could be up-regulated by mAbs which activate the beta 1 subunit indicating that alpha 3 beta 1 activity is a function of expression and affinity. In skin derived from patients with graft-vs.-host (GVH) disease, experimentally induced delayed hypersensitivity reactions, and CTCL, the infiltrating T cells could be stained with mAbs to alpha 3 or beta 1 and were localized in close proximity to the epiligrin-containing basement membrane. Infiltrating lymphocytes in malignant cutaneous B disease (CBCL) did not express alpha 3 beta 1 by immunohistochemical techniques and did not associate with the epidermal basement membrane. The present findings clearly define a function for alpha 3 beta 1 in T cells and strongly suggest that alpha 3 beta 1 interaction with epiligrin may be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous inflammation.


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