Ultrastructural changes in dog thyroid follicular cells elicit by concanavalin A in vitro

Summary Dog thyroid follicular cells exposed to concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro showed changes in cell shape, induction of colloid droplets and alterations in the distribution of microvilli. Cells exposed to Con A plus suboptimal concentrations of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) showed pseudopods and their cytoplasm was virtually occupied with colloid droplets. This findings suggest that Con A potentiated pseudopod and colloid droplet formation induced by TSH.Acknowledgments. The authors gratefully acknowledge the expert technical assistance of J. M. Greco. Supported by V. A. Research Funds.     

Ultrastructural localization of heavy- and light-polypeptide chains in human long-term culture cells detected by peroxidase-conjugated antibodies

Zusammenfassung In langfristiger Kultur wurde mit peroxidasekonjugiertem Antikörper (monospezifisch gegen H- und L-Kette) die submikroskopische Lokalisation der Immunoglobulin H- und L-Kette in den menschlichen Lymphoblastoidzellen an das endoplasmatische Retikulum gebundene beziehungsweise freie Polysoma gefunden.     

In vitro study of C (parafollicular) cells of dog thyroid in organ culture

Riassunto Le cellule C (parafollicolari) della tiroide di cane conservano in vitro, in coltura organotipica, i loro caratteri istochimici ed ultrastrutturali. Tali cellule, cui viene attualmente attribuita la funzione di produrre calcitonina, reagiscono ad una elevazione del contenuto in calcio del terreno di coltura, con modificazioni istochimiche (perdita della argirofilia e metacromasia) e ultra-strutturali (diminuzione fino a scomparsa dei granuli di secrezione). Questi studii fanno ritenere possibile che la secrezione di calcitonina venga direttamente regolata dal livello del calcio.     

Ultrastructural changes in rat liver cells after intramuscular implantation of a Walker tumor

Résumé L'implantation i.m. de la tumeur de Walker chez les rats provoque une dilatation, une désorganisation et une dégranulation progressives du réticulum endoplasmique granuleux des hépatocytes. Ces changements, qui s'accompagnent en même temps d'une prolifération du réticulum endoplasmique lisse, représenteraient les manifestations ultrastructurales d'une insuffisance microsomale démontrée biochimiquement dans le foie des rats affectés par la tumeur de Walker.

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This work was supported in part by the Ministère des Affaires Sociales, Québec, the Medical Research Council of Canada (Block Term Grant No. MT-1829), the Cancer Research Society Inc., and was undertaken as a special project of the Council for Tobacco Research, USA, and the Canadian Tobacco Industry.     

Modification of human adenovirus type 7 after culture in guinea pig brain cells in vitro]

Multiplication of human adenovirus 7 (Ad7) is restricted in subcultures of adult Guinea Pig brain cells. It was however possible to recover enough infectious virus to purify it, and to study its properties. Several properties are similar to that of Ad 7 produced in HeLa cells but differences in sensitivity to cesium chloride and in its polypeptide composition were found.     

Ultrastructural investigation of fetal rat brain hemisphere tissue in nonadherent stationary organ culture

Fetal rat brain fragments grown in nonadherent stationary organ culture for 50 days have been investigated ultrastructurally. Synaptogenesis and myelin formation occurred at the same time as the corresponding time-dependent events in the developing brain in vivo. Intermediate junctions were observed between cellular processes lining a central cavity in the fragments and later associated with astrocytes at the surface. Gap junctions and tight junctions were also present. In some fragments cilia were observed in the central cavity. Subependymal basement membrane labyrinths were observed in all fragments after 10 days in culture. The ultrastructural characteristics and the tissue-like structure in general were preserved for at least 50 days in this tissue culture system. The brain fragments may therefore be a valuable supplement to existing culture methods for nervous tissue.     

Ultrastructural investigation of fetal rat brain hemisphere tissue in nonadherent stationary organ culture

Summary Fetal rat brain fragments grown in nonadherent stationary organ culture for 50 days have been investigated ultrastructurally. Synaptogenesis and myelin formation occurred at the same time as the corresponding time-dependent events in the developing brain in vivo. Intermediate junctions were observed between cellular processes lining a central cavity in the fragments and later associated with astrocytes at the surface. Gap junctions and tight junctions were also present. In some fragments cilia were observed in the central cavity. Subependymal basement membrane labyrinths were observed in all fragments after 10 days in culture. The ultrastructural characteristics and the tissue-like structure in general were preserved for at least 50 days in this tissue culture system. The brain fragments may therefore be a valuable supplement to existing culture methods for nervous tissue.Research fellow from the Norwegian Research Council for Sciences and Humanities. This work was supported by the Norwegian Cancer Society.     

Ultrastructural localization of vanadium in the blood cells of Ascidiacea

Summary X-ray histospectrographic analysis at the scanning and transmission electron microscope (STEM) are made on the blood cells ofPhallusia mamillata Cuvier andCiona intestinalis, to study the direct intracellular sites of accumulation of vanadium. The results show a clear accumulation of vanadium on the membrane and in the granules of vacuoles of amebocytes, signet ring cell, compartment cell and traces of metal in the vanadophores of vanadocytes.We thank Dr C. Weichan and Mr G. Hubert for kind hospitality and for technical assistance in the Department of Electron Microscopy of Siemens Laboratory in Karlsruhe (BRD). We thank also Dr V. Andria of Siemens Elettra in Rome (Italy).