A scanning electron microscopic study of the veliger larvae of the scallop argopecten purpuratus

Author(s):  
G.C. Bellolio ◽  
K.S. Lohrmann ◽  
E.M. Dupré

Argopecten purpuratus is a scallop distributed in the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru. Although this species is mass cultured in both countries there is no morphological description available of the development of this bivalve except for few characterizations of some larval stages described for culture purposes. In this work veliger larvae (app. 140 pm length) were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to study some aspects of the organogenesis of this species.Veliger larvae were obtained from hatchery cultures, relaxed with a solution of MgCl2 and killed by slow addition of 21 glutaraldehyde (GA) in seawater (SW). They were fixed in 2% GA in calcium free artificial SW (pH 8.3), rinsed 3 times in calcium free SW, and dehydrated in a graded ethanol series. The larvae were critical point dried and mounted on double scotch tape (DST). To permit internal view, some valves were removed by slightly pressing and lifting the tip of a cactus spine wrapped with DST, The samples were coated with 20 nm gold and examined with a JEOL JSM T-300 operated at 15 KV.

Author(s):  
E. C. V. Ooi ◽  
C. W. Chan

The histology of the reptilian alimentary tract has been described in numerous light microscopic studies. However, no information on surface morphology is available for any species of reptiles. In the present communication, the alimentary canal of the grass lizard, Takydromus sexlineatus, is investigated by means of light and scanning electron microscopy.Various portions of the alimentary canal were dissected and removed rapidly. While immersed in cacodylate buffer, the inner lining of each portion was exposed and rinsed. The tissues were then fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, dehydrated in graded ethanol series, and critical point dried with carbon dioxide. After coating with gold, the specimens were examined on a JOEL JSM-35 operated at 35 KV. Tissues for light microscopy were processed routinely.


Author(s):  
Heraline E. Hicks ◽  
Jeanne M. Stahl ◽  
Adell Mills

Previous research has indicated that when rats are raised in enriched versus impoverisshed environments significant structural and chemical changes occur in the brain. Enriched environments usually include group housing in a large cage with many inanimate objects that are changed daily. The purpose of this study was to examine by electron microscopy, cellular morphology in rat brains after exposure to enriched versus impoverished environments.Neonatal Long-Evans hooded rats were raised in either enriched or impoverished environments from day 10 to day 70. After 60 days of enrichment, the animals were given several behavioral tests, were euthanized, the brains were surgically removed, and the septum, hippocampus, and cortex were dissected free. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the tissue was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in Sorensen’s phosphate buffer for 24 hr, rinsed and then post-fixed in 2% osmium tetroxide for 1 hr, dehydrated through a graded ethanol series, critical point dried, mounted on specimen holders, sputter coated and examined. Other specimens were embedded in Epon 812, sectioned for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) stained with uranyl acetate followed by lead citrate and examined. SEM demonstrated that brain tissue from rats exposed to enriched environments had more and larger neuronal vessels extending through the tissue than brain tissue from impoverished animals (Fig. 1 & 2).


Author(s):  
Toichiro Kuwabara

Although scanning electron microscopy has a great potential in biological application, there are certain limitations in visualization of the biological structure. Satisfactory techniques to demonstrate natural surfaces of the tissue and the cell have been reported by several investigators. However, it is commonly found that the surface cell membrane is covered with a minute amount of mucin, secretory substance or tissue fluid as physiological, pathological or artefactual condition. These substances give a false surface appearance, especially when the tissue is fixed with strong fixatives. It seems important to remove these coating substances from the surface of the cell for demonstration of the true structure.


Author(s):  
T. Kanetaka ◽  
M. Cho ◽  
S. Kawamura ◽  
T. Sado ◽  
K. Hara

The authors have investigated the dissolution process of human cholesterol gallstones using a scanning electron microscope(SEM). This study was carried out by comparing control gallstones incubated in beagle bile with gallstones obtained from patients who were treated with chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA).The cholesterol gallstones for this study were obtained from 14 patients. Three control patients were treated without CDCA and eleven patients were treated with CDCA 300-600 mg/day for periods ranging from four to twenty five months. It was confirmed through chemical analysis that these gallstones contained more than 80% cholesterol in both the outer surface and the core.The specimen were obtained from the outer surface and the core of the gallstones. Each specimen was attached to alminum sheet and coated with carbon to 100Å thickness. The SEM observation was made by Hitachi S-550 with 20 kV acceleration voltage and with 60-20, 000X magnification.


Author(s):  
Peter M. Andrews

Although there have been a number of recent scanning electron microscopic reports on the renal glomerulus, the advantages of scanning electron microscopy have not yet been applied to a systematic study of the uriniferous tubules. In the present investigation, scanning electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural morphology of the proximal, distal, thin loop, and collecting tubules. Material for observation was taken from rat kidneys which were fixed by vascular perfusion, sectioned by either cutting or fracturing technigues, and critically point dried.The brush border characterising proximal tubules is first detected on the luminal surface of Bowman's capsule adjacent to the urinary pole orifice. In this region one frequently finds irregular microvilli characterized by broad and flattened bases with occasional bulbous structures protruding from their surfaces.


Author(s):  
R. A. Nunamaker ◽  
C. E. Nunamaker ◽  
B. C. Wick

Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) is probably the most economically important species of biting midge in the U.S. due to its involvement in the transmission of bluetongue (BT) disease of sheep, cattle and ruminant wildlife, and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) of deer. Proposals have been made to recognize the eastern and western populations of this insect vector as distinct species. Others recommend use of the term “variipennis complex” until such time that the necessary biosystematic studies have been made to determine the genetic nature and/or minute morphological differences within the population structure over the entire geographic range of the species. Increasingly, students of ootaxonomy are relying on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess chorionic features. This study was undertaken to provide comparative chorionic data for the C. variipennis complex.Culicoides variipennis eggs were collected from a laboratory colony maintained in Laramie, Wyoming.


Author(s):  
A. E. Hotchkiss ◽  
A. T. Hotchkiss ◽  
R. P. Apkarian

Multicellular green algae may be an ancestral form of the vascular plants. These algae exhibit cell wall structure, chlorophyll pigmentation, and physiological processes similar to those of higher plants. The presence of a vascular system which provides water, minerals, and nutrients to remote tissues in higher plants was believed unnecessary for the algae. Among the green algae, the Chaetophorales are complex highly branched forms that might require some means of nutrient transport. The Chaetophorales do possess apical meristematic groups of cells that have growth orientations suggestive of stem and root positions. Branches of Chaetophora incressata were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ultrastructural evidence of pro-vascular transport.


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