Sodium cacodylate as antimitotic agent

The effect of pure sodium cacodylate on dividing cells was studied. The root meristematic cells of <em>Allium cepa</em> L. (the roots were squashed in acetoorcein) and endosperm cells of <em>Haemanthus katherinae</em> Bak. (<em>in vitro</em> observations) were used. Serious disturbances in karyokinesis and cytokinesis were found that led most often to the formation of polyploid or multinucleate (<em>A. cepa</em>) cells. These results point to damage of the mitotic spindle and phragmoplast. Careful use of cacodylate buffer in ultrastructural studies of microtubules is advised.

Evaluation of fixative solutions for ultrastructural analysis of brown spider Loxosceles intermedia (araneae: sicariidae) tissues

In view of the widely varying compositions of fixative solutions used for studying spiders, five different fixative formulas were tested for fixing male brown-spider (Loxosceles intermedia) gonad tissues. The brown spider represents a public health problem in Curitiba (Paraná State, Brazil). Morphological study of its gonads may aid in understanding the reproductive strategies of this species, and possibly in developing a reproduction control program. The fixatives tested contained glutaraldehyde alone or combined with paraformaldehyde, and the buffers cacodylate or phosphate, with or without the addition of sucrose or sodium chloride as osmolytes. Those containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 2% paraformaldehyde in 100 mM phosphate buffer with 200 mM sucrose, or in 200 mM sodium cacodylate, satisfactorily preserved mitochondria, the Golgi apparatus, and the membranes in general. These formulas were nearly isosmotic (439 mOsm/kg H2O and 455 mOsm/kg H2O respectively) to brown spider hemolymph (478 mOsm/kg H2O). With respective to the fixative agents, a glutaraldehyde-paraformaldehyde combination resulted in optimal fixation of Loxosceles intermedia cells. For other species of spiders, hemolymph osmolality should be considered, but the fixative formulas cited above would also probably yield good results.

Bacterial Attachment to Oral Epithelium

The purpose of this work was to examine, by electron microscopy, the mechanism of bacterial binding to oral epithelium in patients with stomatitis using ruthenium red in combination with osmium tetroxide.Bacteriological semi-quantitative estimation of smear from the palatal mucosa was performed in patients with stomatitis and only patients with viridans Streptococci were further included in the present investigation. Biopsies were taken from the inflamed keratinizing mucosa under regional block anesthesia in agreement with Vancouver guidelines 1978. Control samples were fixed with 1.2% glutaraldehyde (buffered at pH 6.5 with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate) for 2 h at 4° C. Postfixation was performed with 1% osmium tetroxide (buffered at pH 6.5 with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate) for 2 h at 4° C. The other samples were fixed and postfixed by the fixatives mentioned before with addition of 1.6 % ruthenium red in each case.

Ultrastructural Analysis Of The Aseptate Gregarine Pterospora, A Parasite of The Bamboo Worm Axiothella Mucosa.

The gregarine Pterospora is a parasite found in the body cavities of bamboo worms (Polychaeta: Maldanidae). The gamont stage of Pterospora has a bizarre structure with a main cell body and multiple posterior cytoplasmic extensions (Fig. 1). The cells are found in pairs within the coelom of the host and move by cytoplasmic streaming as they fill and empty their posterior extensions. Reports of this parasite in the literature are few (see references 1 & 2 for a review) and no ultrastructural details have been published regarding the genus. This study examines the fine structure of the gamont stage with particular emphasis on the structure of the pellicle.The maldanid worm Axiothella mucosa was collected by shovel in St. Andrew Bay, Florida and returned to the Troy State University campus. Pterospora spp. gamonts were pipetted from minced setigers of the worms and fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.05M sodium cacodylate, pH 7.5, for 1-6 hours.

Bacterioids in the Rectal Organ of the Lantern Dug Pyrops Candelaria Linn (Homoptera: Fulgoridae)

The lantern bug harbours three symbionts, namely a, x and i in its body. These microorganisms are supposed to be transmitted transovarially to the future progeny. The x-symbionts are found in a special pair of organs called the x-organ which bulges to form a rectal organ in adult females. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the fine structure of the x-symbionts. This will serve as a basis for understanding the interactions of this microorganism with its host.The rectum of the lantern bug Pyrops candelaria Linn, was dissected out in buffered insect saline and fixed in 2.5% glutaradehyde in 0.1M sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) for 1 hr. The rectal organ was subsequently post-fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide (pH 7.2) and dehydrated in alcohol/acetone series. These were blocked in Spurr resin and cut with a Reichert Ultratome. Sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined with a JEOL JEM-1200EX electron microscope. Thick sections (1 μn) were stained with 1% toluidine blue and examined under a Nikon Optiphot light microscope.

Microscopic studies of Procamallanus elatensis, a parasite in siganids, Red Sea fish in Egypt

Camallanidae is a common nematode family found in a variety of Red Sea fish. Procamallanids were found to be specific to Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus which are considered to be commercially important fish. Procamallanus elatensis collected from Siganids in the northern Gulf of Elat were first described by Fusco and Overstreet using light microscopy, This report includes the first SEM description of Camallanid nematodes.The parasites were washed in 7% saline and saved in 7% formalin until brought to Brigham Young University.They were washed with sodium cacodylate buffer (pH. 7.2), fixed in OSO4 for 12 hr, washed in cacodylate buffer, immersed into 2% tannic acid for 8 hr, washed in buffer, fixed again in OSO4 for 2 hr, washed in buffer, dehydrated with critical point drying and coated with gold.Adult worms were long, slender, and reddish in color. At the anterior end the mouth was round and surrounded by the cephalic plate.