Ultrastructural Studies on an Unidentified Microorganism in Urine

Author(s):  
C. N. Sun ◽  
P. N. Morgan ◽  
F. Herring ◽  
H. J. White

We recently studied the fine structure of unusual microorganisms in a urine specimen. To our knowledge, previous electron microscopic investigation of these microorganisms has never been done. The microorganisms were found in the sediments of two separate urine specimens obtained from a 55 year old patient. In these samples, there were yeast cells and two types of gram negative microorganisms; a typical rodlike, non-mobile bacterium, and a spheroid form with two projections. The latter organisms were varying sizes and moved by a typical serpent-like motility. The rod-like structures were approximately 0.4 - 1 μ in diameter and up to 8 μ in length. The spheroid structures, which stained homogeneously and were not spore-like in appearance, were approximately 6 μ in diameter. A few intermediate or transitional forms of various sizes and shapes were also found.

1. The process of healing in the rabbit ear chamber has been investigated in detail by correlating light microscopy, mainly in vivo , and electron microscopy. 2. During healing new vessels are formed from existing vessels by a process of sprouting and anastomosis, with subsequent remodelling of the loops so formed. 3. The fundamental process in the formation of vessels by sprouting is the mitotic division of existing endothelium, during which it retains its characteristic properties. 4. Blood vessel sprouts are composed of strands of tightly apposed cells formed in continuity with the walls of existing vessels. The subsequent canalization of such strands takes place extra-cellularly by a series of events largely as described by Billroth (1856). 5. The endothelium of recently formed vessels has a fine structure which distinguishes it clearly from that of more mature vessels. Certain features of this structure are compatible with a secretory activity by the endothelium during the formation of new vessels. 6. Evidence was obtained that in the course of differentiation of recently formed vessels fibroblast-like cells are incorporated into vessel walls to become adventitial cells, and that adventitial cells may undergo conversion to vascular smooth muscle cells. 7. Lymphatic endothelium exhibits properties during regeneration that confirm the specificity of this form of endothelium. 8. Cells with the characteristic fine structure of fibroblasts were frequently found in mitosis. The fibroblasts in the regions of active fibrogenesis had a highly developed cisternal form of endoplasmic reticulum. Vesicles and corresponding caveolae identifiable in such fibroblasts may provide a communication between the endoplasmic reticulum and the sites of fibrogenesis at the external surfaces of the cells. 9. Cells sharing characteristic features of fine structure formed a series which grouped together the monocyte, macrophage and foreign body giant cell. 10. Highly fibrillary intracytoplasmic tracts were found in both fibroblasts and macrophages. These tracts were equated with the fibroglial fibres of light microscopy. 11. ‘ Clear spaces ’ in advance of the growing fringe of blood vessels were temporary structures lined by a pavement of mesothelium-like cells. 12. No evidence was found of the formation of primitive mesenchymal tissue during healing in the mammal.


1963 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Moor ◽  
K. Mühlethaler

The freeze-etching technique, which is a special kind of freeze-drying, allows electron microscopic investigation of cells and tissues in the frozen state. In regard to yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) a freeze-fixation technique has been developed which does not kill the object. The electron micrographs therefore are considered to impart an image of high fidelity. The cutting of the frozen object, which actually consists of a fine splintering, produces not only cross-sectional views (cross-fractures) of the structures but also surface views of the membranes and organelles. Many surface structures are described which have not been shown by the usual sectioning techniques. The cytoplasmic membrane contains hexagonal arrangements of particles which are apparently involved in the production of the glucan fibrils of the cell wall. Alterations of the distribution of nuclear pores are shown in cells of different ages. Freeze-etching enables a clear distinction of endoplasmic reticulum and vacuoles in yeast cells. The membranes of the vesicular systems are covered by ribosomes arranged in circular patterns. The mitochondrial envelope shows small perforations which could allow the exchange of macromolecules. The storage granules consist of concentric layers of lipid, presumably phosphatide. A Golgi apparatus has been detected which may be involved in the storage of lipid. The structure of the unit membrane and the membrane structures of all organelles as revealed by chemical fixation are confirmed in principle. Glycogen agglomerations are identified in the ground plasm of older cells. Insight into artifacts introduced by common chemical fixation and embedding techniques is obtained and discussed.


1963 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Ito ◽  
Robert J. Winchester

A description of the cytology of the gastric mucosa is presented based upon an electron microscopic investigation of the bat stomach. The fine structure of the various cell types in this species is fundamentally similar to that of the corresponding cell types of other mammals, but the relative cell numbers and distribution are somewhat different. (a). The surface mucous cells are identified by their superficial location and by the character of their dense secretory granules. (b). The mucous neck cells are distinguished by a characteristically different appearance and distribution of their mucous granules, and by their varied shape and their location between parietal cells. (c). The parietal cells are very large and have unusually prominent secretory canaliculi and an extraordinary number of large mitochondria. (d). The chief cells are found at the base of the gastric glands and are similar in their fine structure to other zymogenic cells. They contain many large zymogen granules and have an extensively developed granular endoplasmic reticulum. The latter is sometimes aggregated in unusual, hexagonally packed straight tubules, each with twelve longitudinal rows of ribosomes uniformly spaced around its circumference and with the rows of ribosomes in precise register with those of adjoining tubules. (e). Argentaffin cells lodged between other cell types vary sufficiently in the structure of their mitochondria and the character of their specific granules to suggest that they are of more than one kind. The majority are at the base of the epithelium but some extend to the lumen and bear microvilli on their free surface.


Author(s):  
G. Ilse ◽  
K. Kovacs ◽  
N. Ryan ◽  
T. Sano ◽  
L. Stefaneanu ◽  
...  

Germfree state and food restriction have been shown to increase life span and delay tumor occurrence in rats. We report here the histologic, immunocytochemical and electron microscopic findings of adenohypophyses of aging, male Lobund-Wistar rats raised at Lobund Laboratories. In our previous study, the morphologic changes in the adenohypophyses of old rats have been extensively investigated by histology, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Lactotroph adenomas were frequent in Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats, whereas gonadotroph adenomas were frequent in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats.Male Lobund-Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) conventional, which were raised under normal non-germfree environment and received food ad libitum; 2) germfree-food ad libitum; 3) conventional environment-food restricted and 4) germfree-food restricted. The adenohypophyses were removed from 6-month-, 18-month- and 30-month-old rats. For light microscopy, adenohypophyses were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin.


Author(s):  
P.W. Coates ◽  
E.A. Ashby ◽  
L. Krulich ◽  
A. Dhariwal ◽  
S. McCann

The morphologic effects on somatotrophs of crude sheep hypothalamic extract prepared from stalk-median eminence were studied by electron microscopy in conjunction with concurrently run bioassays performed on the same tissue samples taken from young adult male Sherman rats.Groups were divided into uninjected controls and injected experimentals sacrificed at 5', 15', and 30' after injection. Half of each anterior pituitary was prepared for electron microscopic investigation, the other half for bioassay. Fixation using collidine buffered osmium tetroxide was followed by dehydration and embedment in Maraglas. Uranyl acetate and lead citrate were used as stains. Thin sections were examined in a Philips EM 200.Somatotrophs from uninjected controls appeared as described in the literature (Fig. 1). In addition to other components, these cells contained moderate numbers of spherical, electron-dense, membrane-bound granules approximately 350 millicrons in diameter.


Author(s):  
K. Kovacs ◽  
E. Horvath

Chromophobe pituitary adenomas arise from adenohypophysial cells and fail to exhibit cytoplasmic staining with conventional acid or basic dyes by light microscopy. The aim of the present work was to study the electron microscopic features of these tumors, to separate them into distinct entities and to correlate their fine structural appearances with secretory activity.Among 48 surgically removed various pituitary adenomas 30 tumors were found which, based on the tinctorial characteristics of the cytoplasm, corresponded to chromophobe adenomas. For electron microscopic investigation pieces of these tumors were fixed in 2.5 per cent glutaraldehyde in Sorensen's buffer, post fixed in 1 per cent osmium tetroxide in Millonig's buffer, dehydrated in graded ethanol and embedded in Epon 812. Ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.By electron microscopy it was possible to separate chromophobe adenomas into 3 distinct entities: 1) adenomas consisting of sparsely granulated growth hormone cells (7 cases).


Author(s):  
John R. Palisano

Although confronting cistemae (CC) have been observed in a variety of tumor cells and normal fetal rat, mouse, and human epithelial tissues, little is known about their origin or role in mitotic cells. While several investigators have suggested that CC arise from nuclear envelope (NE) folding back on itself during prophase, others have suggested that CC arise when fragments of NE pair with endoplasmic reticulum. An electron microscopic investigation of 0.25 um thick serial sections was undertaken to examine the origin of CC in HeLa cells.


Author(s):  
E. Horvath ◽  
K. Kovacs ◽  
L. Stefaneanu ◽  
N. Losinski

Human pituitary corticotropins have unique morphologic markers: bundles of type-1 filaments, measuring approximately 70 A in width and representing cytokeratin. The extreme ring-like accumulation of type-1 filaments, known as Crooke's hyalinization, signals functional suppression of the corticotropins and occurs in endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoid excess, caused by ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, glucocorticoid secreting adrenocortical tumor, ectopic ACTH-syndrome and administration of pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids. Cells of autonomous corticotroph adenomas usually do not show Crooke's hyalin change. A minority of these tumors, however, retains sensitivity to the negative feed-back effect of elevated blood glucocorticoid levels and display typical Crooke’s change.In the present study pituitary corticotropins in various phases of Crooke's hyalinization were investigated in patients with glucocorticoid excess of various origin, applying histology, immunocytochemistry, count of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), and transmission electron microscopy.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 887-894
Author(s):  
Linda Poffenroth ◽  
J. W. Costerton ◽  
Nonna Kordová ◽  
John C. Wilt

Electron microscopic examination of a semipurified Chlamydia psittaci 6BC strain attenuated in chick embryo yolk sac revealed for the first time two morphologically distinct small elementary bodies which differ both in the ultrastructure of their surface layers and in their buoyant densities in sucrose gradients. Also, the morphology of the surface layers of the larger reticulate forms in cell-free systems is described for the first time. Many points of difference between the surface envelopes and internal structure of chlamydial particles and those of Gram-negative bacteria are discussed.


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