scholarly journals THE FINE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE TENTACLE IN TOKOPHRYA INFUSIONUM

1965 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Rudzinska
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope Study ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Dense Bodies ◽  
Structural Details ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Feeding Process ◽  
Fine Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

The feeding apparatus of Suctoria consists of long, thin, stiff tubes called tentacles. When a swimming prey attaches to the tip of the tentacle a number of events follow in rapid succession. The tentacle broadens, a stream of tiny granules starts to move upward at its periphery to the tip, the prey becomes immobilized and shortly thereafter the cytoplasm of the still living prey begins to flow through the center of the tentacle to the body of the predator. An electron microscope study of the tentacle in Tokophrya infusionum, a protozoan of the subclass Suctoria, has disclosed a number of structural details which help to clarify some of the mechanisms involved in this unusual way of feeding. Each tentacle is composed of two concentric tubes. The lumen of the inner tube is surrounded by 49 tubular fibrils most probably of contractile nature. In the inner tube the cytoplasm of the prey is present during feeding, and in the outer tube are small dense bodies. It was found that the dense bodies originate in the cytoplasm of Tokophrya. They have an elongate, missile-like appearance, pointed at one end, rounded at the other, and are composed of several distinct segments. At the tip of the tentacle they penetrate the plasma membrane, with their pointed ends sticking out. It is assumed that the missile-like bodies play a major role in the feeding process. Their composite structure suggests that they might contain a number of enzymes which most probably are responsible for the various events preceding the actual food intake.

scholarly journals Evidence of Regeneration of Testicular and Epididymal Tissue Structure and Function Following Withdrawal from Sub-chronic Khat Exposure: Studies in the Rabbit Animal Model

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-23
Author(s):  
Albert W. Nyongesaa ◽  
Esther M. Malukib ◽  
Jemimah A. Simbaunib
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Middle East Countries ◽  
Group I ◽  
And Function

Khat, Catha edulis, use is rampant in Eastern Africa and Middle East countries with associated reports of reproductive function impairment in the body of the user. Reports on recovery post long-term khat exposure are obscure. The present study investigated evidence of restoration of testicular and epididymal structure and function during withdrawal from cytotoxic damage caused by sub-chronic exposure of khat extract. Twenty-eight male rabbits were divided into 7 groups of 4 rabbits each. Group I (control) was administered normal saline while groups II, III and IV were administered 1.0 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 20 g/kg body weight of khat extract, respectively, via oral gavage on alternate days of the week for 12 weeks. Blood samples from animals were collected for hormonal assays followed by euthanasia using 26.4 mg/kg body weight of Sagatal sodium intramuscularly for testicular and epididymal histology. Group V, VI and VII were administered 1.0 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 20 g/kg body weight of khat extract, respectively, orally on alternate days of the week for 12 weeks followed by 1-month withdrawal period, blood samples collected for hormone assays and animals sacrificed for testicular and epididymal histology. High khat dose, 20 g/kg body weight, at sub-chronic exposure caused degeneration in spermatogenic cells with accompanying decrease in plasma FSH and testosterone. Histological output of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and epididymal epithelium appeared unaffected in treatment groups. Post withdrawal data showed apparent regeneration of seminiferous epithelium and restoration of plasma FSH and testosterone comparable to control. It appears khat extract preferentially affected germ cell spermatogonia and subsequent daughter cells while stem cell spermatogonia were unaffected and contributed to regeneration of germinal epithelium and endocrine function.

Cellular structure and function

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-104
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Cellular Structure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Intracellular Organelles ◽  
And Function

‘Cellular structure and function’ covers the roles, structures, and functions of the main four types of macromolecules of the human body, namely proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. For these macromolecules, the roles and types of each class are discussed (for proteins this includes their roles as structural proteins and enzymes and their kinetics; for lipids, the roles and types of lipid found in the body are considered; for carbohydrates, their roles including structural and metabolic are discussed; and the structure of nucleic acids is described). Then follows a description of the organization of the cell, including the plasma membrane and its components, and the intracellular organelles. Cell growth, division, and apoptosis are covered, as are the formation of gametes, and finally the principles of how cellular functions can be modulated by pharmacological agents through receptors and signalling pathways are discussed.

scholarly journals Structure and Function of the Body

1969 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1075
Author(s):  
Faustena Blaisdell ◽  
Catherine Parker Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Structure And Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
And Function
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