scholarly journals Electron Microscopy of Retinal Photoreceptors

1960 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaldo Lasansky ◽  
Eduardo de Robertis
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Outer Segment ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
The Other ◽  
Rod Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Retinal Photoreceptors ◽  
L1 And L2

The fine structure of the cone and rod outer segments of the toad was studied under the electron microscope after fixation in osmium tetroxide and fixation in formaldehyde followed by chromation. In the OsO4-fixed specimens, the rod outer segment appears to be built of a stack of lobulated flattened sacs, each of which is made of two membranes of about 40 A separated by an innerspace of about 30 A. The distance between the rod sacs is about 50 A. The sacs in the cone outer segment are originated by the folding of a continuous membrane. The thickness of the membranes and width of the spaces between the cone sacs is the same as in rod, but the sac innerspace is slightly narrower in the cone (∼ 20 A). After fixation in formaldehyde and chromation, two different dense lines (l1 and l2) separated by spaces of less density appear. One of the lines, l1, has a thickness of 70 A and is less dense than the other, l2, which is 30 A thick. The correlation of the patterns obtained with both fixatives is considered and two possible interpretations are given. The possibility that l2 is related to a soluble phospholipid component is discussed. It is suggested that the outer segments have a paracrystallin organization similar to that found in myelin.

The fine structure of the trunk and praesoma wall of Acanthocephalus ranae (Schrank, 1788), Lühe, 1911

Parasitology ◽  
1967 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Light Microscope ◽  
Body Wall ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fat Excretion ◽  
Research Grant

The wall of the trunk, that of the praesoma, and the lemnisci of Acanthocephalus ranae have been studied by electron microscopy. Striations visible in sections of the body wall under the light microscope do not correspond with the ‘striped layer’ revealed by the electron microscope.A new region, the ‘canal layer’, has been described. This contains canals running into the body wall from cuticular pores.Structurally the wall of the trunk and that of the praesoma are similar. The lemnisci resemble the ‘inner layer’ of the praesoma wall. However, it is suggested that the wall of the trunk differs physiologically from that of the praesoma, and from the lemnisci. The possible roles of the wall of the praesoma and the lemnisci in fat excretion or uptake have been discussed.The body wall of A. ranae has been compared with that of the other acantho-cephalans studied with the electron microscope.Grateful acknowledgement is made to D.S.I.R. (now S.R.C.) for a research grant to the Department of Zoology for the purchase of a Huxley ultramicrotome, a vacuum coating unit, and an AEI EM 6 electron microscope.I am grateful to Dr D. A. Erasmus for reading and criticizing the manuscript, and to Mr T. Davies for valuable technical assistance.

X-ray microanalytical and enzyme-cytochemical study on vesical malacoplakia

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 646-647
Author(s):  
Masami Hokano ◽  
Tsunao Oh-I ◽  
Yoshie Narita ◽  
Hiroshi Sassa ◽  
Saburo Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Granulomatous Inflammation ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lead Citrate ◽  
Cytochemical Study ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Ultrathin Sections

Malacoplakia is a kind of granulomatous inflammation and characterized by the presence of calcium-stain positive granules (Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, hereinafter abbreviated as M-G bodies ) in the macrophages.In this report we want to say about the following articles:the ultrastruc tural findings in four cases of vesical malacoplakia;the ultrastructural morphogenesis of the M-G bodies;X-ray microanalytical studies which examine the change of the chemical component of M-G bodies, according to their developing stages; andacid phosphatase activity of lysosome within the malacoplakic macrophages.Biopsy materials taken from four cases with vesical malacoplakia were divided into 2 parts; one for a light microscopy and the other for an electron microscopy. The specimen for an electron microscopy was fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol and then embedded in Epon 812. Ultrathin sections were doublestained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate and then subjected to routin TEM observation. For X-ray microanalysis was mounted an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer on a JEM-100 C type electron microscope. Ultrathin sections for microanalysis were cut 100-200nm thich and not stained.

The photoreceptors and pigment epithelium of the larval Xenopus retina: morphogenesis and outer segment renewal

1978 ◽  
Vol 201 (1143) ◽  
pp. 149-167 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Basal Body ◽  
Outer Segment ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Ultrastructural Observation ◽  
Rod Outer Segments ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Constant Rate

Light microscopic autoradiography and electron microscopy were used to examine outer segment renewal and the development of photoreceptors and pigment epithelium in the larval Xenopus retina. Following the injection of [ 3 H]-leucine at stages 37/38–40 (when outer segments first develop) or 53–54 (when rod outer segments (r. o. s.) attain adult length), a band of label accumulated at the base of r. o. s. and was displaced sclerally with time, whereas label was diffusely distributed in cone outer segments (c. o. s.). By taking into account the change in shape of r. o. s. from conical to cylindrical around stage 46, and calculating outer segment growth (determined from the rate of band displacement) as volume of material added with time, we found a constant rate of membrane addition (1.59 μm/day) from the time of initial outer segment formation. The changes observed in r. o. s. length therefore indicate variations in the rate of disk shedding and phagocytosis, which is minimal before stage 46 and rises to 1.19 μm/day after stages 53–54. Ultrastructural observation showed that although all photoreceptor outer segments form by the repeated evagination of the plasma membrane of the connecting cilium, r. o. s. and c. o. s. are distinguishable by differences in membrane appearance even before they develop divergent membrane topologies. Fibrous granules near the basal body of young receptors may be precursors to the elongating ciliary microtubules. Clusters of cisternae observed near the ciliary base in photoreceptor inner segments may represent a stage in the transport of newly-synthesized opsin to the outer segment base.

Electron Microscopy of Frog Photoreceptor Outer Segments after Fixation with Aldehydes

1974 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-219
Author(s):  
G. J. JONES
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Ringer Solution ◽  
Rod Outer Segments ◽  
Buffer Concentration ◽  
Glutaraldehyde Fixation ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Cytoplasmic Material ◽  
Disk Membrane

The appearance of the outer segments of isolated retinae fixed with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde alone, or with these aldehydes and postfixed with osmium tetroxide, is described. Rod outer segments and, to a lesser extent, cone outer segments of retinae fixed only with glutaraldehyde show shrinkage or swelling artifacts which are dependent on the fixative buffer concentration. The rod outer segments are most normal with a fixative phosphate buffer about 50% isotonic with retinal Ringer solution. The disks fixed with glutaraldehyde alone have a granular pentalaminar structure. At the edge of the rod disks, the loops formed by folding over of the disk membranes are seen after glutaraldehyde fixation alone to be filled with stainable material and the edges of adjacent loops to be in contact. The edge of the disk stack thus appears to be a more solid structure than previously thought, and it only partly survives osmium tetroxide treatment, even after glutaraldehyde fixation. Similarly, the arrangement of the disk membranes after glutaraldehyde fixation also appears to be weakened by postfixation with osmium tetroxide. For rod outer segments showing severe shrinkage after glutaraldehyde fixation alone, the interdisk clear spaces are lost and stainable cytoplasmic material, probably protein, is trapped between the disks. The disk membranes then appear as light lines on a dark background, since the central, unstained hydrophobic regions of each disk membrane become prominent.

Development of 200 kV Scanning-Transmission Electron Microscope

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 410-411
Author(s):  
H. Koike ◽  
S. Sakurai ◽  
K. Ueno ◽  
M. Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope ◽  
The Other ◽  
Morphological Observation ◽  
Magnetic Domains ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
Backscattered Electron ◽  
Increasing Demand

In recent years, there has been increasing demand for higher voltage SEMs, in the field of surface observation, especially that of magnetic domains, dislocations, and electron channeling patterns by backscattered electron microscopy. On the other hand, the resolution of the CTEM has now reached 1 ∼ 2Å, and several reports have recently been made on the observation of atom images, indicating that the ultimate goal of morphological observation has beem nearly achieved.

Freeze-Fracture Replication of Frozen Outer Segments of Rat Retinal Rods

1969 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 392-393
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Leeson ◽  
C. Roland Leeson
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Outer Segment ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Retinal Rods ◽  
Temperature Electron ◽  
Freeze Etching

Numerous previous studies of outer segments of retinal receptors have demonstrated a complex internal structure of a series of transversely orientated membranous lamellae, discs, or saccules. In cones, these lamellae probably are invaginations of the covering plasma membrane. In rods, however, they appear to be isolated and separate discs although some authors report interconnections and some continuities with the surface near the base of the outer segment, i.e. toward the inner segment. In some species, variations have been reported, such as longitudinally orientated lamellae and lamellar whorls. In cross section, the discs or saccules show one or more incisures. The saccules probably contain photolabile pigment, with resulting potentials after dipole formation during bleaching of pigment. Continuity between the lamina of rod saccules and extracellular space may be necessary for the detection of dipoles, although such continuity usually is not found by electron microscopy. Particles on the membranes have been found by low angle X-ray diffraction, by low temperature electron microscopy and by freeze-etching techniques.

The Current Situation in Chemical Stabilization of Biological Materials

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 132-133
Author(s):  
John H. Luft
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Chemical Stabilization ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Sufficient Condition ◽  
Radio Telescopes

With information processing devices such as radio telescopes, microscopes or hi-fi systems, the quality of the output often is limited by distortion or noise introduced at the input stage of the device. This analogy can be extended usefully to specimen preparation for the electron microscope; fixation, which initiates the processing sequence, is the single most important step and, unfortunately, is the least well understood. Although there is an abundance of fixation mixtures recommended in the light microscopy literature, osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde are favored for electron microscopy. These fixatives react vigorously with proteins at the molecular level. There is clear evidence for the cross-linking of proteins both by osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde and cross-linking may be a necessary if not sufficient condition to define fixatives as a class.

The External Morphology of the Eggs of Culex (Culex) saltanensis (Diptera: Culicidae) Under Scanning Electron Microscopy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Santos-Mallet ◽  
T D Balthazar ◽  
A A Oliveira ◽  
W A Marques ◽  
A Q Bastos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscope ◽  
Optical Microscopy ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
External Morphology ◽  
Metal Supports ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract The aim of the present study was to describe the morphology of the eggs of Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar that occurs in the Neotropical region. Eggs of the Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis were collected at the Mata Atlântica FIOCRUZ campus, fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, prepared for mounting on metal supports, observed under a scanning electron microscope, and described morphologically. The eggs had a coniform shape with a length of approximately 0.5 mm (505–510 µm) and a width in the median portion of 117 µm (113–123 µm). Upper portion is lined with tubers of irregular shape and varying sizes (0.64–1.31 µm), located on a cross-linked matrix forming bands observed under optical microscopy. The micropyle is encased in a necklace of approximately 6.6-µm plates arranged in a flower-like shape. Comparing Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis eggs with several species of different genera, important divergent characteristics can be observed. However, this study points to the need for new descriptions of eggs of species belonging to the same subgenus in order to analyze if there will be differences between them. Culex (Cux.) saltanensis eggs have particular characteristics not observed in eggs of other Culicidae genera.

scholarly journals DNA AND THE FINE STRUCTURE OF SYNAPTIC CHROMOSOMES IN THE DOMESTIC ROOSTER (GALLUS DOMESTICUS)

1964 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Coleman ◽  
Montrose J. Moses
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Gallus Domesticus ◽  
Feulgen Staining ◽  
Synaptinemal Complex ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The indium trichloride method of Watson and Aldridge (38) for staining nucleic acids for electron microscopy was employed to study the relationship of DNA to the structure of the synaptinemal complex in meiotic prophase chromosomes of the domestic rooster. The selectivity of the method was demonstrated in untreated and DNase-digested testis material by comparing the distribution of indium staining in the electron microscope to Feulgen staining and ultraviolet absorption in thicker sections seen with the light microscope. Following staining by indium, DNA was found mainly in the microfibril component of the synaptinemal complex. When DNA was known to have been removed from aldehyde-fixed material by digestion with DNase, indium stainability was also lost. However, staining of the digested material with non-selective heavy metal techniques demonstrated the presence of material other than DNA in the microfibrils and showed that little alteration in appearance of the chromosome resulted from DNA removal. The two dense lateral axial elements of the synaptinemal complex, but not the central one to any extent, also contained DNA, together with non-DNA material.

scholarly journals The fine structure produced in cells by primary fixatives 2. Potassium dichromate

1965 ◽  
Vol s3-106 (73) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
JOHN R. BAKER
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Golgi Apparatus ◽  
Nuclear Membrane ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Potassium Dichromate ◽  
Potassium Dichromate Solution ◽  
Zymogen Granules ◽  
Mouse Pancreas

The exocrine cells of the mouse pancreas were fixed in potassium dichromate solution, embedded in araldite or other suitable medium, and examined by electron microscopy. Almost every part of these cells is seriously distorted or destroyed by this fixative. The ergastoplasm is generally unrecognizable, the mitochondria and zymogen granules are seldom visible, and no sign of the plasma membrane, microvilli, or Golgi apparatus is seen. The contents of the nucleus are profoundly rearranged. It is seen to contain a large, dark, irregularly shaped, finely granular object; the evidence suggests that this consists of coagulated histone. The sole constituent of the cell that is well fixed is the inner nuclear membrane. The destructive properties of potassium dichromate are much mitigated when it is mixed in suitable proportions with osmium tetroxide or formaldehyde.

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