Fate of sperm membrane in fertilized ova

Author(s):  
Frank J. Longo

Measurement of the egg's electrical activity, the fertilization potential or the activation current (in voltage clamped eggs), provides a means of detecting the earliest perceivable response of the egg to the fertilizing sperm. By using the electrical physiological record as a “real time” indicator of the instant of electrical continuity between the gametes, eggs can be inseminated with sperm at lower, more physiological densities, thereby assuring that only one sperm interacts with the egg. Integrating techniques of intracellular electrophysiological recording, video-imaging, and electron microscopy, we are able to identify the fertilizing sperm precisely and correlate the status of gamete organelles with the first indication (fertilization potential/activation current) of the egg's response to the attached sperm. Hence, this integrated system provides improved temporal and spatial resolution of morphological changes at the site of gamete interaction, under a variety of experimental conditions. Using these integrated techniques, we have investigated when sperm-egg plasma membrane fusion occurs in sea urchins with respect to the onset of the egg's change in electrical activity.

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qurat Ul Ain Javed ◽  
Hussain Abbas ◽  
Hasan Mahmood ◽  
Abdul Sattar ◽  
Feng Ping Wang ◽  
...  

Single crystalline high quality α-Mn2O3nanorods and sea-urchins assembled with pen-type nanoneedles have been successfully synthesized by template-free hydrothermal route. The variation in hydrothermal temperature has affected the morphology of the α-Mn2O3sea-urchin assembled with the nanoneedles noticeably. The influence of temperature change on the thickness, crystallinity, surface morphology and optical properties of α-Mn2O3has been characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Raman Spectroscopy (RS) and UV-visible Spectroscopy. The results showed that in our experimental conditions, single crystalline nanorods of the α-Mn2O3were obtained at a low temperature of 180 °C, while single crystalline sea-urchin assembled with pen-type nanoneedles were obtained by increasing the temperature to 280 °C. Nanorods and sea-urchin assembled with pen-type nanoneedles obtained had the well defined morphology and crystalline quality. The sea-urchin synthesized at 280 °C exhibited more than 90% absorption in UV-visible spectrum.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Gonzalez-Riano ◽  
Silvia Tapia-González ◽  
Gertrudis Perea ◽  
Candela González-Arias ◽  
Javier DeFelipe ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBrain slice preparations are widely used for research in neuroscience. However, a high-quality preparation is essential and there is no consensus regarding stable parameters that can be used to define the status of the brain slice preparation after its collection at different time points. Thus, it is critical to establish the best experimental conditions for ex-vivo studies using brain slices for electrophysiological recording. In this study, we used a multiplatform (LC-MS and GC-MS) untargeted metabolomics-based approach to shed light on the metabolome and lipidome changes induced by the brain slice preparation process. We have found significant modifications in the levels of 300 compounds, including several lipid classes and their derivatives, as well as metabolites involved in the GABAergic pathway and the TCA cycle. All these preparation-dependent changes in the brain biochemistry should be taken into consideration for future studies to facilitate non-biased interpretations of the experimental results.


Author(s):  
Nalin J. Unakar

The increased number of lysosomes as well as the close approximation of lysosomes to the Golgi apparatus in tissue under variety of experimental conditions is commonly observed. These observations suggest Golgi involvement in lysosomal production. The role of the Golgi apparatus in the production of lysosomes in mouse liver was studied by electron microscopy of liver following toxic injury by CCI4.


Author(s):  
John H. L. Watson ◽  
John L. Swedo ◽  
M. Vrandecic

The ambient temperature and the nature of the storage fluids may well have significant effects upon the post-implantation behavior of venus autografts. A first step in the investigation of such effects is reported here. Experimental conditions have been set which approximate actual operating room procedures. Saphenous veins from dogs have been used as models in the experiments. After removal from the dogs the veins were kept for two hours under four different experimental conditions, viz at either 4°C or 23°C in either physiological saline or whole canine arterial blood. At the end of the two hours they were prepared for light and electron microscopy. Since no obvious changes or damage could be seen in the veins by light microscopy, even with the advantage of tissue specific stains, it was essential that the control of parameters for successful grafts be set by electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
F.G. Lightfoot ◽  
L.E. Grau ◽  
M.M. Cassidy ◽  
G.R. Tadvalkar ◽  
G.V. Vahouny

Psyllium hydrophillic mucilloid is a natural gelling fiber consumed by a large population of our society. It is used as a bulk-producing laxative and in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”. The literature pertaining to the ultrastructural effects of this agent is sparse.This study documents morphological changes induced by psyllium. Animals fed a diet containing 2% psyllium for four weeks were subsequently sacrificed and processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The colon contained fecal material combined with psyllium which conformed to the contour of the luminal surface. This mixture formed surface replicas of the intestinal mucosa. These replicas and their related colonic sites were processed for morphologic analysis.


Author(s):  
John C. Garancis ◽  
Robert O. Hussa ◽  
Michael T. Story ◽  
Donald Yorde ◽  
Roland A. Pattillo

Human malignant trophoblast cells in continuous culture were incubated for 3 days in medium containing 1 mM N6-O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) and 1 mM theophylline. The culture fluid was replenished daily. Stimulated cultures secreted many times more chorionic gonadotropin and estrogens than did control cultures in the absence of increased cellular proliferation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed remarkable surface changes of stimulated cells. Control cells (not stimulated) were smooth or provided with varying numbers of microvilli (Fig. 1). The latter, usually, were short and thin. The surface features of stimulated cells were considerably different. There was marked increase of microvilli which appeared elongated and thick. Many cells were covered with confluent polypoid projections (Fig. 2). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated marked activity of cytoplasmic organelles. Mitochondria were increased in number and size; some giant forms with numerous cristae were observed.


Author(s):  
Didier Debaise

Which kind of relation exists between a stone, a cloud, a dog, and a human? Is nature made of distinct domains and layers or does it form a vast unity from which all beings emerge? Refusing at once a reductionist, physicalist approach as well as a vitalistic one, Whitehead affirms that « everything is a society » This chapter consequently questions the status of different domains which together compose nature by employing the concept of society. The first part traces the history of this notion notably with reference to the two thinkers fundamental to Whitehead: Leibniz and Locke; the second part defines the temporal and spatial relations of societies; and the third explores the differences between physical, biological, and psychical forms of existence as well as their respective ways of relating to environments. The chapter thus tackles the status of nature and its domains.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. E. Borglin ◽  
L. Bjersing

ABSTRACT Oestriol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,16α,17β-triol) is a weakly oestrogenic substance which, however, in contrast to what was formerly believed, is of physiological significance. Its effect is localized largely to the uterine cervix and vagina. Clinical experience argues both for and against an effect on the pituitary gland. This investigation is concerned with the morphological changes in the pituitary gland and adrenal cortex of gonadectomized male and female rats after the injection of oestriol. It was found that oestriol has the same type of action on these glands as other oestrogens, but under the experimental conditions used, this effect proved much weaker than that produced by oestradiol (oestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-diol).


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2489
Author(s):  
Ami Yoo ◽  
Mengshi Lin ◽  
Azlin Mustapha

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) for food safety is increasingly being explored. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) NPs are inorganic chemicals with antimicrobial and bioactive characteristics and have been widely used in the food industry. However, not much is known about the behavior of these NPs upon ingestion and whether they inhibit natural gut microflora. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ZnO and Ag NPs on the intestinal bacteria, namely Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium animalis. Cells were inoculated into tryptic soy broth or Lactobacilli MRS broth containing 1% of NP-free solution, 0, 12, 16, 20 mM of ZnO NPs or 0, 1.8, 2.7, 4.6 mM Ag NPs, and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The presence and characterization of the NPs on bacterial cells were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Membrane leakage and cell viability were assessed using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and confocal electron microscope, respectively. Numbers of treated cells were within 1 log CFU/mL less than those of the controls for up to 12 h of incubation. Cellular morphological changes were observed, but many cells remained in normal shapes. Only a small amount of internal cellular contents was leaked due to the NP treatments, and more live than dead cells were observed after exposure to the NPs. Based on these results, we conclude that ZnO and Ag NPs have mild inhibitory effects on intestinal bacteria.


Author(s):  
Franziska Winkelmann ◽  
Marcus Frank ◽  
Anne Rabes ◽  
Nicole Koslowski ◽  
Cindy Schulz ◽  
...  

AbstractSchistosomiasis is one of the most devastating parasitic disease in the world. Schistosoma spp. survive for decades within the vasculature of their human hosts. They have evolved a vast array of mechanisms to avoid the immune reaction of the host. Due to their sexual dimorphism, with the female worm lying within the gynecophoric canal of the male worm, it is the male that is exposed to the immediate environment and the soluble parts of the host’s immune response. To understand how the worms are so successful in fending off the immune attacks of the host, comparative analyses of both worm sexes in human serum (with or without Praziquantel) were performed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Further, gene expression analyses of tegument-specific genes were performed. Following the incubation in human serum, males and females out of pairs show morphological changes such as an altered structure of the pits below the surface and an increased number of pits per area. In addition, female schistosomes presented a marked tuft-like repulsion of their opsonized surface. The observed resistance of females to Praziquantel seemed to depend on active proteins in the human serum. Moreover, different expression profiles of tegument-specific genes indicate different functions of female_single and male_single teguments in response to human serum. Our results indicate that female schistosomes developed different evasion strategies toward the host’s immune system in comparison to males that might lead to more robustness and has to be taken into account for the development of new anti-schistosomal drugs.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document