Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Male Nematode Physaloptera (Tetradelphynema)

Author(s):  
Bahja I. Behbehani ◽  
Ramesh K. Nayak ◽  
Randall E. McCoy

Nematodes are elongate, unsegmented worms with an elastic cuticle made of protein. Few published references concerning scanning electron microscopy of nematode are available and there is paucity of information at the ultrastructural level on cuticle forming male reproductive structures. The species of the genus Physaloptera (tetradelphynema) commonly live as parasites in the adult form in the stomach of the desert rodent Gerbillus cheesmani. To date, the three-dimensional surface features of this spiruroid nematode have not been described. The main purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the surface features of the male nematode utilizing the current techniques of scanning electron microscopy.Adult worms were collected in the laboratory from the stomach of the gerbil, Gerbillus cheesmani. They were washed in PO4 buffer solution and subsequently fixed overnight in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer. Following fixation, the specimens were washed 3 times in buffer and sonically cleaned for 30 seconds to remove debris adhering on the body wall of the nematode.

2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-185
Author(s):  
Myoung Chul Kim ◽  
Sang Chan Park ◽  
Dong Jun Chun ◽  
Suk Woo Kang ◽  
Young Rok Seo ◽  
...  

Histological studies of the silk glands of the caddisfly larvae of Hydropsyche kozhantschikovi Martynov demonstrated that these structure fold twice into a ‘Z’ shape with the volume in the center comparatively thicker than in other sections. The glands are more slender towards the mouth and unite with the labium. A pair of muscles, an apodeum between the muscles and the body wall, and a tendon between the muscles and the glands were observed within the thorax. We assumed that silk is spewed through these structures. Examination of the material from the inside of the silk glands showed varying composition. The center was loose and heterogeneous, while the surrounding area was homogeneous. These differences were verified through immunohistochemistry. Scanning electron microscopy show that capture nets of H. kortizantschikovi larvae have randomly arranged silk strands.


Author(s):  
Jane A. Westfall ◽  
S. Yamataka ◽  
Paul D. Enos

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides three dimensional details of external surface structures and supplements ultrastructural information provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Animals composed of watery jellylike tissues such as hydras and other coelenterates have not been considered suitable for SEM studies because of the difficulty in preserving such organisms in a normal state. This study demonstrates 1) the successful use of SEM on such tissue, and 2) the unique arrangement of batteries of nematocysts within large epitheliomuscular cells on tentacles of Hydra littoralis.Whole specimens of Hydra were prepared for SEM (Figs. 1 and 2) by the fix, freeze-dry, coat technique of Small and Màrszalek. The specimens were fixed in osmium tetroxide and mercuric chloride, freeze-dried in vacuo on a prechilled 1 Kg brass block, and coated with gold-palladium. Tissues for TEM (Figs. 3 and 4) were fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide. Scanning micrographs were taken on a Cambridge Stereoscan Mark II A microscope at 10 KV and transmission micrographs were taken on an RCA EMU 3G microscope (Fig. 3) or on a Hitachi HU 11B microscope (Fig. 4).


Author(s):  
R. I. Johnsson-Hegyeli ◽  
A. F. Hegyeli ◽  
D. K. Landstrom ◽  
W. C. Lane

Last year we reported on the use of reflected light interference microscopy (RLIM) for the direct color photography of the surfaces of living normal and malignant cell cultures without the use of replicas, fixatives, or stains. The surface topography of living cells was found to follow underlying cellular structures such as nuceloli, nuclear membranes, and cytoplasmic organelles, making possible the study of their three-dimensional relationships in time. The technique makes possible the direct examination of cells grown on opaque as well as transparent surfaces. The successful in situ electron microprobe analysis of the elemental composition and distribution within single tissue culture cells was also reported.This paper deals with the parallel and combined use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the two previous techniques in a study of living and fixed cancer cells. All three studies can be carried out consecutively on the same experimental specimens without disturbing the cells or their structural relationships to each other and the surface on which they are grown. KB carcinoma cells were grown on glass coverslips in closed Leighto tubes as previously described. The cultures were photographed alive by means of RLIM, then fixed with a fixative modified from Sabatini, et al (1963).


1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Rummelt ◽  
L M Gardner ◽  
R Folberg ◽  
S Beck ◽  
B Knosp ◽  
...  

The morphology of the microcirculation of uveal melanomas is a reliable market of tumor progression. Scanning electron microscopy of cast corrosion preparations can generate three-dimensional views of these vascular patterns, but this technique sacrifices the tumor parenchyma. Formalin-fixed wet tissue sections 100-150 microns thick from uveal melanomas were stained with the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEAI) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to demonstrate simultaneously the tumor blood vessels and proliferating tumor cells. Indocarbocyanine (Cy3) was used as a fluorophore for UEAI and indodicarbocyanine (Cy5) was used for PCNA. Double labeled sections were examined with a laser scanning confocal microscope. Images of both stains were digitized at the same 5-microns intervals and each of the two images per interval was combined digitally to form one image. These combined images were visualized through voxel processing to study the relationship between melanoma cells expressing PCNA and various microcirculatory patterns. This technique produces images comparable to scanning electron microscopy of cast corrosion preparations while permitting simultaneous localization of melanoma cells expressing PCNA. The microcirculatory tree can be viewed from any perspective and the relationship between tumor cells and the tumor blood vessels can be studied concurrently in three dimensions. This technique is an alternative to cast corrosion preparations.


1972 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Dahl

AbstractA method for preparation of alcohol-preserved culicid larvae for Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies is described. It is based on dehydration by ethanol-xylol and fast evaporation of xylol in +8o° C. for ten minutes. For taxonomic studies such as examination of pecten teeth, comb scales and microtrichiae in magnifications up to 6oooX the method is suitable. For studies of receptor structures on hair-tufts and microstructures of the body integument alcohol preserved material is less satisfactory. The microstructure of the comb scales is figured and their function discussed. Differences in the ultrastructure of the abdominal hair-tufts are pointed out.


1984 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 874-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.K. Guha Roy ◽  
A.K. Mukhopadhyay ◽  
A.K. Mukherjee

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