Morphological aspects of chemically stimulated bovine chromaffin cells

Summary Isolated bovine chromaffin cells were chemically stimulated. The resulting appearance of local changes in membrane structure were compared with the integration of granular proteins into the cell membrane as seen after binding of fluorescence labeled anti-dopamine--hydroxylase. Protuberances of the cell membrane which can be perceived by Nomarski contrast optics are largely congruent with local tracer accumulations at the cell surface.     

Cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of the penis artery of the bull: transmitter concentrations and synaptic vesicles.

The penile artery of the bull contained significant amounts of acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine, and its axon profiles contained either numerous small granular or agranular vesicles, as well as some large granular vesicles. In the dorsal metatarsal artery, only noradrenaline and dopamine were detectable, and the axon profiles observed contained numerous small granular vesicles. In the penile artery, the axons with small agranular vesicles, probably cholinergic axons, were in close contact with axons containing small granular vesicles. It is suggested that, in the penile artery of the bull, one of the functions of the cholinergic nerves is suppression of excitatory adrenergic neurotransmission.     

Turnover of 5-hydroxydopamine in adrenergic nerves

Summary In adrenergic nerve endings of the guinea-pig vas deferens the population of small granular vesicles increases from 19% in control animals to 80–90% 1–3 h after the administration of 5-hydroxydopamine, and gradually declines to control values in 10 days. Large granular vesicles were also loaded but the loss of enhanced granulation was more rapid than in the small granular vesicles.M. R. C. Scholar. I am greatly indebted to Prof. G. Burnstock, Prof. G. Gray and Dr G. Gabella for helpful advice and criticism. The technical assistance of J. Barron and G. Barrett is gratefully acknowledged.     

In vitro development ofXenopus skin glands producing 5-hydroxytryptamine and caerulein

The granular glands of amphibian skin synthesize and store a large amount of bioactive amines and peptides which are structurally similar to mammalian brain-gut peptides. To investigate the development of peptide- and amine-producing cells in the granular glands, pieces of dorsal skin taken at various stages fromXenopus laevis tadpoles were cultured, and the contents of caerulein and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured. When pieces of skin from tadpoles at stages 57 to 60 (Nieuwkoop and Faber stages) were cultured in a medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS medium) or one containing FCS treated with charcoal (chFCS medium), the caerulein and 5-HT levels were increased for the six days of the incubation period. The caerulein content was lower in the chFCS medium than in the FCS medium. Addition of thyroxine to the chFCS medium had no significant effect on the caerulein content. These results show that the caerulein-and 5-HT-producing cells of the granular glands can develop in a culture system with FCS- or chFCS-containing media, and suggest that FCS contains substances which are absorbed by charcoal and stimulate development of the amine- and peptideproducing cells of the glands. In a preliminary search for correlation between caerulein and 5-HT synthesis, addition of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor to 5-HT, to the FCS medium increased 5-HT content and, conversely, caused significant decrease in caerulein content, suggesting that accumulation of caerulein in the granular glands is influenced by the amount of 5-HT synthesis. These studies indicate that this culture system is a useful model for investigating the development of peptide- and amine-producing cells.     

Selective destruction in testes induced by fluoroacetamide

Riassunto Gli autori descrivono le lesioni del testicolo del ratto osservate nel corso di sperimentazioni con la fluoroacetamide. Tali lesioni consistono in alterazioni regressive interessanti elettivamente la linea seminale.     

Cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of the penis artery of the bull: Transmitter concentrations and synaptic vesicles

Summary The penile artery of the bull contained significant amounts of acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine, and its axon profiles contained either numerous small granular or agranular vesicles, as well as some large granular vesicles. In the dorsal metatarsal artery, only noradrenaline and dopamine were detectable, and the axon profiles observed contained numerous small granular vesicles. In the penile artery, the axons with small agranular vesicles, probably cholinergic axons, were in close contact with axons containing small granular vesicles. It is suggested that, in the penile artery of the bull, one of the functions of the cholinergic nerves is suppression of excitatory adrenergic neurotransmission.This study has been supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (to O.E.), from the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland (to E.K.) and from the Magnus Bergvall Memorial Fund (to N.O.S.). Excellent technical assistance by Mrs Paula Hasenson and Miss Seija Ovaskainen is gratefully acknowledged.     

Atrofia del testicolo prodotta dal monofluoroacetato sodico nel ratto albino

Summary The lesions caused by sodium monofluoroacetate on the testis of the albino rat are described. They consist of regressive modifications of the seminiferous tubules which initially cause damage to the intermediate stages and only later to the spermatogonia. The action of sodium monofluoroacetate is similar to that of fluoroacetamide.     

Immune-mediated glomerulonephritis induced by mercuric chloride in mice

Summary The BALB/c mouse developed mesangial deposits of immune constituents and light microscopical changes characteristic of immune complex glomerulonephritis after 8 weeks' treatment with mercuric chloride given by s.c. injection. There were no signs of linear of granular immune deposits along the glomerular capillary basement membrane after 2 or 8 weeks. The antigen could not be identified. No antibodies to nuclear or renal structures were found. Using a histochemical method (silver amplification) mercury was detected by light and electron microscopy in tubular and glomerular structures. Mercury was present in secondary lysosomes of the mesangial cells after eight weeks of mercury poisoning.We are deeply indebted to Dr. Gorm Danscher, Institute of Anatomy, B., University of Aarhus, Denmark, for valuable discussions and technical advice. This work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council, project no 6536.     

Differential roles of multiple adhesion molecules in cell migration: granule cell migration in cerebellum

The migration of cerebellar granule cells from the external granular layer to the internal granular layer is mediated by the radical Bergmann glial fiber. Recent works have shown that cell adhesion molecules, extra-cellular matrix proteins and proteolytic enzymes or their activators are involved in this process. Immuno-localization studies showed differential temporal and spatial expression patterns of different adhesion molecules, their isoforms, and post-translational modification during different stages of granule cell migration. Functional perturbation experiments using cerebellar explant cultures demonstrated that several adhesion molecules as well as plasminogen activator are involved in granule cell migration and are required in different stages. Other systems used to study granule cell migration including dissociated microwell cultures and granule cell deficient mouse mutants are discussed in the context of adhesion molecules. The results accumulated so far suggest that the migration of granule cells is a complex process in which the cooperation of a group of molecules with different functions, some for adhesion some for de-adhesion, are required to fulfill the different needs during the migratory course.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull.

Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.     

Der Einfluss von Halothan und Chloroform auf die Feinstruktur und Proteinsynthese der Rattenleber

Summary Examinations by electron microscopic and autoradiographic techniques of whether chloroform and halothane alter protein synthesis in rat liver, demonstrate, that chloroform causes an early destruction of the granular endoplasmatic reticulum accompanied by a marked decrease of the protein synthesis in the centre of the acini. After anaesthesia with halothane, the granular endoplasmatic reticulum and the protein synthesis proved to remain unaffected.     

Differential roles of multiple adhesion molecules in cell migration: Granule cell migration in cerebellum

Summary The migration of cerebellar granule cells from the external granular layer to the internal granular layer is mediated by the radial Bergmann glial fiber. Recent works have shown that cell adhesion molecules, extra-cellular matrix proteins and proteolytic enzymes or their activators are involved in this process. Immuno-localization studies showed differential temporal and spatial expression patterns of different adhesion molecules, their isoforms, and post-translational modification during different stages of granule cell migration. Functional perturbation experiments using cerebellar explant cultures demonstrated that several adhesion molecules as well as plasminogen activator are involved in granule cell migration and are required in different stages. Other systems used to study granule cell migration including dissociated microwell cultures and granule cell deficient mouse mutants are discussed in the context of adhesion molecules. The results accumulated so far suggest that the migration of granule cells is a complex process in which the cooperation of a group of molecules with different functions, some for adhesion some for de-adhesion, are required to fulfill the different needs during the migratory course.     

Electron microscopical evidence of the evolution of corynebacteria-like microorganisms within human erythrocytes

The corynebacteria-like microorganisms evoluting in the haemocultures take origin from electron dense granular bodies carried within the erythrocytes.     

Electron microscopical evidence of the evolution of corynebacteria-like microorganisms within human erythrocytes

Summary The corynebacteria-like microorganisms evoluting in the haemocultures take origin from electron dense granular bodies carried within the erythrocytes.     

Pentalaminar specialized membrane junctions - tight junctions - are described in the granular layer of the pigeon cerebellum. The presence of these axo-dendritique and dendrosomatic contacts suggest the existence of electrotonic coupling in the pigeon cerebellum.

Pentalaminar specialized membrane junctions - tight junctions - are described in the granular layer of the pigeon cerebellum. The presence of these axo-dendritique and dendrosomatic contacts suggest the existence of electrotonic coupling in the pigeon cerebellum.     

Ultrastructure of epiphyseal cartilage after extraction on thin sections of "Epon" of proteoglycans by calcium chloride]

Dissociative methods are commonly used to extract proteoglycans. With a 2 M CaCl2 solution these components can be also extracted from thin sections of fixed, "Epon" included material. Secretory granules of the chondrocytes, granular components of extracellular matrix as matrix vesicles lost their electron density. Glycoproteins of the cell coat as non collagenous glycoproteins disappear. The method seems to be valuable for extracting proteoglycans from thin sections prepared for electron microscope investigations.     

Distribution and number of fluorescent granular perithelial cells in coronal sections of rats cerebrum

The fluorescent granular perithelial cells (F.G.P.) of rats aged 1 week to 2 years were observed under a light microscope to investigate intracellular granules and localization. This study showed that a marked proliferation of F.G.P. occurs within 3 weeks after birth and the total number remains constant for 2 years. The F.G.P. are mainly distributed in the gray matter, and are scarce in the white matter. The number and distribution of F.G.P. seems to reflect a difference of vascularization and function in different cerebral regions.     

Functional study of the rat olfactory bulb by a 14C-2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic technic]

The autoradiographic method has been used in the Rat to map active regions in the olfactory bulb after a pulse of 14C-2-deoxyglucose with electrical stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract. The highest optical densities were found at the external plexiform, mitral, internal plexiform and granular layers; the lowest was found in the glomerular layer.     

Distribution and number of fluorescent granular perithelial cells in coronal sections of rats cerebrum

Summary The fluorescent granular perithelial cells (F.G.P.) of rats aged 1 week to 2 years were observed under a light microscope to investigate intracellular granules and localization. This study showed that a marked proliferation of F.G.P. occurs within 3 weeks after birth and the total number remains constant for 2 years. The F.G.P. are mainly distributed in the gray matter, and are scarce in the white matter. The number and distribution of F.G.P. seems to reflect a difference of vascularization and function in different cerebral regions.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull

Summary Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.This study has been supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (to O. E.), from the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland (to E. K.) and from the Magnus Bergvall Memorial Fund (to N. O. S.). Excellent technical assistance by Mrs.Paula Hasenson is gratefully acknowledged.