Fine structure of the impulse-conducting system in rat heart

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haukur Melax ◽  
Thomas S. Leeson

The sinoatrial node of the rat is composed of loosely interwoven modified cardiac muscle cells, which are lined up in groups to form somewhat irregular layers or plates. A generous amount of atrial specific granules is found in their cytoplasm. Between the nodal cells there is a loose connective tissue containing numerous bundles of unit fibrils of collagen and unmyelinated nerve fibers. In the atrioventricular node the modified cardiac cells are larger than those of the sinoatrial node, and are arranged in small groups. They contain a large amount of glycogen. Unmyelinated nerve fibers are extremely numerous in the atrioventricular node and myelinated nerve fibers are also present.

1973 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Martinez-Palomo ◽  
D. Benitez ◽  
J. Alanis

Perfusion of beating false tendons of the dog heart with ionic lanthanum produced drastic but reversible modifications of the excitability and the transmembrane action potential of Purkinje cells. Ultrastructural examination of these cells revealed the appearance of a fine extracellular precipitate detectable on unstained sections. In addition, specimens perfused with La+++ showed a striking increase in the contrast of the sarcolemma, particularly in gap junctions and in pinocytic vesicles. La+++ deposits were restricted to the cytoplasmic leaflets of the sarcolemma; no precipitates were found at the plasma membrane of fibroblasts, endothelial and smooth muscle cells, or unmyelinated nerve fibers present in the same specimens. A selective deposition of La+++ was also observed in the sarcolemma of atrial and ventricular cells of dog, rabbit, and cat hearts, as well as in the membrane of the transverse tubular system of ventricular cells. Both the electrophysiological effects and the ultrastructural membrane deposits produced by La+++ disappeared when the specimens were subsequently perfused with phosphate-containing tyrode solution. These results tend to demonstrate that a distinctive feature of the sarcolemma of mammalian cardiac cells is the presence of regions with a high surface density of binding sites for polyvalent cations.


Author(s):  
Z. M. Yaschyshyn ◽  
S. L. Popel

The aim: to study the dynamics of histological and ultrastructural changes in muscle fibers and their neuromuscular endings under conditions of prolonged hypokinesia at different stages of ontogenesis. Methods. Studied skeletal muscles and their peripheral nervous apparatus of laboratory male Wistar rats aged 30 to 270 days. The restriction of motor activity was carried out in special canister cells for 30, 60, 90, and 240 days (5 animals for each term). To determine the type of muscle fiber, the Nahlas histochemical method was used, the Kulchitsky method was used to detect myelinated nerve fibers, the Bilshovsky-Gros method and the electron microscopic method to identify neuromuscular endings. Results. The data of histological and electron microscopic examination of skeletal muscle fibers and their neuromuscular endings under conditions of prolonged hypokinesia indicate their regular restructuring during the development of muscles, the formation of their synapses and structures that are associated with them at different stages of ontogenesis. Conclusion. The study provides an in-depth understanding of the relative frequency and nature of the disturbance of the neuromuscular endings during prolonged hypokinesia and its effect on the dynamics of structural adjustment of individual types of muscle fibers in ontogenesis.


Author(s):  
Z. M. Yaschyshyn ◽  
S. L. Popel

The aim: to study the dynamics of histological and ultrastructural changes in muscle fibers and their neuromuscular endings under conditions of prolonged hypokinesia at different stages of ontogenesis. Methods. Studied skeletal muscles and their peripheral nervous apparatus of laboratory male Wistar rats aged 30 to 270 days. The restriction of motor activity was carried out in special canister cells for 30, 60, 90, and 240 days (5 animals for each term). To determine the type of muscle fiber, the Nahlas histochemical method was used, the Kulchitsky method was used to detect myelinated nerve fibers, the Bilshovsky-Gros method and the electron microscopic method to identify neuromuscular endings. Results. The data of histological and electron microscopic examination of skeletal muscle fibers and their neuromuscular endings under conditions of prolonged hypokinesia indicate their regular restructuring during the development of muscles, the formation of their synapses and structures that are associated with them at different stages of ontogenesis. Conclusion. The study provides an in-depth understanding of the relative frequency and nature of the disturbance of the neuromuscular endings during prolonged hypokinesia and its effect on the dynamics of structural adjustment of individual types of muscle fibers in ontogenesis.


1988 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Toshimori ◽  
Kiyotaka Toshimori ◽  
Shigeru Matsukura ◽  
Chikayoshi Ōura ◽  
Hisayuki Matsuo

1953 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. De Robertis ◽  
C. M. Franchi

A technique has been developed for the extrusion of axon material from myelinated nerve fibers. This material is then compressed and prepared for observation with the electron microscope. All the stages of preparation and purification of the axon material can be checked microscopically and in the present paper they are illustrated with phase contrast photomicrographs. Observation with the electron microscope of the compressed axons showed the presence of the following components: granules, fibrils, and a membranous material. Only the larger granules could be seen with the ordinary microscope. A considerable number of dense granules were observed. Of these the largest resemble typical mitochondria of 250 mµ by 900 mµ. In addition rows or small clusters of dense granules ranging in diameter from 250 to 90 mµ were present. In several specimens fragments of a membrane 120 to 140 A thick and intimately connected with the axon were found. The entire axon appeared to be constituted of a large bundle of parallel tightly packed fibrils among which the granules are interspersed. The fibrils are of indefinite length and generally smooth. They are rather labile structures, less resistant in the rat than in the toad nerve. They varied between 100 and 400 A in diameter and in some cases disintegrated into very fine filaments (less than 100 A thick). The significance is discussed of the submicroscopic structures revealed by electron microscopy of the material prepared in the way described.


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