Effects of ouabain and electrical stimulation on the fine structure of nerve endings in the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata

1981 ◽  
Vol 220 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Solsona ◽  
J.E. Esquerda ◽  
J. Marsal
1965 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Sheridan

The fine structure of the electric organ of the fish Torpedo marmorata has been examined after osmium tetroxide or potassium permanganate fixation, acetone dehydration, and Araldite embedment. This organ consists of stacks of electroplaques which possess a dorsal noninnervated and a ventral richly innervated surface. Both surfaces are covered with a thin basement membrane. A tubular membranous network whose lumen is continuous with the extracellular space occupies the dorsal third of the electroplaque. Nerve endings, separated from the ventral surface of the electroplaque by a thin basement membrane, contain synaptic vesicles (diameter 300 to 1200 A), mitochondria, and electron-opaque granules (diameter 300 A). Projections from the nerve endings occupy the lumina of the finger-like invaginations of the ventral surface. The cytoplasm of the electroplaques contains the usual organelles. A "cellular cuff" surrounds most of the nerve fibers in the intercellular space, and is separated from the nerve fibre and its Schwann cell by a space containing connective tissue fibrils. The connective tissue fibrils and fibroblasts in the intercellular space are primarily associated with the dorsal surface of the electroplaque.


1977 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
M F Diebler ◽  
Y Morot-Gaudry

Formation of acetyl-CoA through acetyl-CoA synthetase (forward reaction) and through choline acyltransferase (backward reaction) was investigated in tissue extract from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. When the tissue extract was submitted to gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, the formation of acetyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA synthetase appeared fully dependent on ATP and CoA and partially dependent on acetate (an endogenous supply of acetate is discussed). Choline acetyltransferase was a potent source of acetyl-CoA, only requiring acetylcholine and CoA, and was much more efficient than acetyl-CoA synthetase for concentrations of acetylcholine likely to be present in nerve endings.


1976 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Bleasdale ◽  
J N Hawthorne ◽  
L Widlund ◽  
E Heilbronn

One electric organ of anaesthetized Torpedo marmorata was stimulated through electrodes placed on the electric lobe of the brain. Nerves to the other electric organ were cut to provide an unstimulated control. Glucose 6-[32P]phosphate was injected into each organ 16h before electrical stimulation. After stimulation for 10 min at 5 Hz, the organs were removed homogenized and centrifuged on a density gradient for the preparation of subcellular fractions. Stimulation increased the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidate, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. The increased phosphatidate labelling, but not that of the other two lipids, was seen in fractions rich in synaptic vesicles. Stimulation had no effect on ATP labelling. The phosphatidate content of most fractions fell slightly after stimulation, but amounts of other phospholipids were not affected.


1976 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Israël ◽  
R Manaranche ◽  
P Mastour-Frachon ◽  
N Morel

A rapid method for the preparation of highly purified cholinergic nerve endings from the electric organ of Torpedo is described. The endings retain their cytoplasmic components, as shown by biochemical and morphological observations. The homogeneity of these synaptosomes make them a useful tool for further studies.


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