Capsella Embryogenesis: the Chalazal Proliferating Tissue

1971 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-227
Author(s):  
PATRICIA SCHULZ ◽  
W. A. JENSEN

Electron-microscope and histochemical procedures were used to study the development and breakdown of the chalazal proliferating tissue in Capsella. This tissue is formed by the enlargement of several layers of nucellar cells at the chalazal end of the embryo sac. When the embryo reaches the early globular stage these enlarged cells start to disintegrate, beginning with those immediately bordering the embryo sac and continuing until all have broken down. Characteristic ultrastructural changes accompany the development and breakdown of the chalazal proliferating cells. The mature cells form increased numbers of dictyosomes and large amounts of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This is accompanied by a thickening of the cell wall. As the cells begin to break down, electron density increases, plastids become polarized in the cells, dictyosomes disappear and the ER is dispersed and fragmented. Plastids, some mitochondria, and pieces of ER appear to be digested in autophagic vacuoles. Cell disorganization is accompanied by an increased number of microbodies and multivesicular bodies per cell. Finally, the nucleus breaks down and the plasmalemma disappears. The end wall ruptures and releases intact mitochondria, ribosomes, and portions of degenerated cytoplasm into the endosperm. Histochemical changes accompany these events. Also discussed are the antipodals and the destruction of the proximal part of the chalazal nucellus by the expanding megagametophyte prior to the development of the chalazal proliferating tissue.

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Pargney

In angiosperm plants subjected to plasmolysis, pollen tubes may undergo substantial ultrastructural changes accompanied by a gradual deterioration of those processes involved in cell syntheses. However, some tubes quickly regenerate a polysaccharide wall and thus ensure their extension. Others undergo fragmentation of their cytoplasm and a serious breakdown in processes involved in cell wall synthesis. In these extreme cases, the endoplasmic reticulum is the only compartment that is readily discernible.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Mansfield ◽  
L. G. Briarty

Embryo differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana follows the classical Capsella variation of the Onagrad type. Fertilization occurs approximately 3 h after flowering, whereupon vacuolar organization in the zygote changes and the cell elongates rapidly to approximately three times its original length. Cytoplasmic polarization is maintained. During the first two division steps there is very little increase in total cell volume, and during subsequent divisions vacuole number increases, with a concomitant decrease in size. Plastids remain undifferentiated up to the late globular stage, after which grana begin to develop. Ribosomal concentration increases significantly after fertilization. Differences between embryo proper cells become evident by the heart stage; vacuole, plastid, and mitochondrial abundance, size, and complexity vary within the embryo. There are no plasmodesmatal connections with the endosperm or integuments. Suspensor development is complete by the early globular stage, when it consists of seven to nine highly vacuolate cells, each linked by end wall plasmodesmata. Ribosome and volume densities of plastids and mitochondria are significantly lower than in the embryo proper organelles, and dictyosomes are infrequent. Embryo sac wall projections proliferate throughout the micropylar chamber, especially adjacent to the filiform apparatus and zygote base, and ingrowths form on the basal cell proximal wall. Key words: Arabidopsis, embryogenesis, embryo differentiation, wall ingrowths.


1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 1103-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Raghu Kumar

In the thraustochytrid Ulkenia amoeboidea (Bahnweg & Sparrow) Gaertner the contents of the mature vegetative thallus escape from the cell wall in the form of a limax cell. The limax cell is covered by a layer of scales and possesses a nucleus, a paranuclear body, Golgi bodies, mitochondria, bands of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, multivesicular bodies, and cisternae with filamentous contents. The posterior end is filled with smooth endoplasmic reticulum and fusiform vesicles. The anterior end is organelle free and filled with cytoplasm with free ribosomes. Subspherical dense bodies, bounded by a single membrane, are present. The limax cell rounds up prior to mitosis and the Golgi bodies increase in number. During mitosis, the nuclear membrane breaks down totally. Chromosomes are not well defined. Spindle microtubules arise from the centriole and enter the nucleus. After nuclear division, the nuclear envelope is reformed. Cytokinesis is by cleavage into two cells, accompanied by formation of microtubules along the cleavage furrows. The zoospore possesses a nucleus, a paranuclear body, mitochondria, vesicles with presumptive mastigonemes and kinetosome rootlet microtubules and they are covered by a layer of scales. An electron-dense granule and two peripheral thickenings are present within the lumen of the kinetosome.


Blood ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 614-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
YASUKAZU TANAKA ◽  
LOIS B. EPSTEIN ◽  
GEORGE BRECHER ◽  
FREDERICK STOHLMAN

Abstract Previous tracer studies have demonstrated the lymphocytic origin of proliferating cells in blood cultures. Detailed morphologic observations are reported on the transformation of small lymphocytes into larger cells capable of division in tissue culture of human peripheral blood. The large cells have ample cytoplasm with multivesicular bodies, well-developed Golgi apparatus, scanty endoplasmic reticulum, ample ribosomes, and variable fat-laden vacuoles as well as peculiar granular inclusions, large and occasionally bizarre nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Under the condition of culture no further differentiation of these cells has occurred. The potentialities of the small lymphocyte are discussed in the light of recent radiobiologic and cytogenetic investigations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 165-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Wilms

The egg apparatus of <em>Spinacia</em> was studied from the time the embryo sac reaches its maximal size to just before fertilization, i.e., until about 8-9 hours after pollination. At maturity each synergid has a large elongated nucleus and prominent chalazal vacuoles, Numerous mitochondria, plastids, dictyosomes, free ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and lipid bodies are present. The cell wall exists only around the micropylar half of the synergids and each cell has a distinct, striated filiform apparatus. In general, degeneration of one synergid starts after pollination. The egg cell has a spherical nucleus and nucleolus and a large micropylar vacuole. Numerous mitochondria, some plastids with starch grains, dictyosomes, free ribosomes, and HER are present. A continuous cell wall is absent around the chalazal end of the egg cell.


Author(s):  
Odell T. Minick ◽  
Hidejiro Yokoo ◽  
Fawzia Batti

To learn more of the nature and origin of alcoholic hyalin (AH), 15 liver biopsy specimens from patients with alcoholic hepatitis were studied in detail.AH was found not only in hepatocytes but also in ductular cells (Figs. 1 and 2), although in the latter location only rarely. The bulk of AH consisted of a randomly oriented network of closely packed filaments measuring about 150 Å in width. Bundles of filaments smaller in diameter (40-90 Å) were observed along the periphery of the main mass (Fig. 1), often surrounding it in a rim-like fashion. Fine filaments were also found close to the nucleus in both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells, the latter even though characteristic AH was not present (Figs. 3 and 4). Dispersed among the larger filaments were glycogen, RNA particles and profiles of endoplasmic reticulum. Dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum were often conspicuous around the periphery of the AH mass. A limiting membrane was not observed.


Author(s):  
Kazushige Hirosawa ◽  
Eichi Yamada

The pigment epithelium is located between the choriocapillary and the visual cells. The pigment epithelial cell is characterized by a large amount of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in its cytoplasm. In addition, the pigment epithelial cell of some lower vertebrate has myeloid body as a specialized form of the SER. Generally, SER is supposed to work in the lipid metabolism. However, the functions of abundant SER and myeloid body in the pigment epithelial cell are still in question. This paper reports an attempt, to depict the functions of these organelles in the frog retina by administering one of phospholipid precursors.


Author(s):  
R.H.M. Cross ◽  
C.E.J. Botha ◽  
A.K. Cowan ◽  
B.J. Hartley

Senescence is an ordered degenerative process leading to death of individual cells, organs and organisms. The detection of a conditional lethal mutant (achloroplastic) of Hordeum vulgare has enabled us to investigate ultrastructural changes occurring in leaf tissue during foliar senescence.Examination of the tonoplast structure in six and 14 day-old mutant tissue revealed a progressive degeneration and disappearance of the membrane, apparently starting by day six in the vicinity of the mitochondria associated with the degenerating proplastid (Fig. 1.) where neither of the plastid membrane leaflets is evident (arrows, Fig. 1.). At this stage there was evidence that the mitochondrial membranes were undergoing retrogressive changes, coupled with disorganization of cristae (Fig. 2.). Proplastids (P) lack definitive prolamellar bodies. The cytoplasmic matrix is largely agranular, with few endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cisternae or polyribosomal aggregates. Interestingly, large numbers of actively-budding dictysomes, associated with pinocytotic vesicles, were observed in close proximity to the plasmalemma of mesophyll cells (Fig. 3.). By day 14 however, mesophyll cells showed almost complete breakdown of subcellular organelle structure (Fig. 4.), and further evidence for the breakdown of the tonoplast. The final stage of senescence is characterized by the solubilization of the cell wall due to expression and activity of polygalacturonase and/or cellulose. The presence of dictyosomes with associated pinocytotic vesicles formed from the mature face, in close proximity to both the plasmalemma and the cell wall, would appear to support the model proposed by Christopherson for the secretion of cellulase. This pathway of synthesis is typical for secretory glycoproteins.


Author(s):  
Roncaglia Bianca ◽  
Papini Alessio ◽  
Chini Zittelli Graziella ◽  
Rodolfi Liliana ◽  
Mario R. Tredici

AbstractNannochloropsis oceanica F&M-M24 is able to increase its lipid content during nitrogen starvation to more than 50% of the total biomass. We investigated the ultrastructural changes and the variation in the content of main cell biomolecules that accompany the final phase of lipid accumulation. Nitrogen starvation induced a first phase of thylakoid disruption followed by chloroplast macroautophagy and formation of lipid droplets. During this phase, the total amount of proteins decreased by one-third, while carbohydrates decreased by 12–13%, suggesting that lipid droplets were formed by remodelling of chloroplast membranes and synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates and amino acids. The change in mitochondrial ultrastructure suggests also that these organelles were involved in the process. The cell wall increased its thickness and changed its structure during starvation, indicating that a disruption process could be partially affected by the increase in wall thickness for biomolecules recovery from starved cells. The wall thickness in strain F&M-M24 was much lower than that observed in other strains of N. oceanica, showing a possible advantage of this strain for the purpose of biomolecules extraction. The modifications following starvation were interpreted as a response to reduction of availability of a key nutrient (nitrogen). The result is a prolonged survival in quiescence until an improvement of the environmental conditions (nutrient availability) allows the rebuilding of the photosynthetic apparatus and the full recovery of cell functions.


1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1025-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Gazeau

Wheat seedlings were treated at different temperatures and for various periods of time with a cold-protective substance, composed of a mixture of glycerol, dimethylsulfoxide, and saccharose. When the treatment was done at 20 °C, slight ultrastructural changes appeared in leaf primordia as soon as day 1. Thus numbers of lipid globules increased significantly. When the treatment period was increased to 4 days, numbers of starch grains increased, and there was a marked enlargement of mitochondria and plasts. When the treatment was done at 2 °C, cytoplasmic alterations occurred later than at 20 °C. After a 4-day treatment, they were similar to changes induced at 20 °C. When the treatment period was increased to 12 days, dictyosomes were markedly altered. They clustered close to the nucleus in two or three groups and gave rise to numerous pale vesicles with various shapes and sizes. Around each cluster of such vesicles, there gathered many endoplasmic reticulum vesicles and other organelles (mitochondria, plasts, microbodies, vacuoles). A further cooling of 1 °C/min, down to −15 or −30 °C, enhanced these phenomena. After the seedlings were warmed up to 20 °C in distilled water, the changes induced by the frost-protective treatment and then by freezing were shown to be reversible. [Journal translation]


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document