Fine structure of surface and sunken grooved pegs on the antenna of female Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Boo ◽  
S. B. McIver

The antenna of female Anopheles stephensi Liston bears three types of sensilla with grooved pegs: those sunken in pits and subtypes A and B of those located on the flagellar surface. The sunken peg sensilla are innervated by four or five neurons with branching dendrites. The dendrites are exposed to the exterior by means of longitudinal clefts at the bases of the grooves in the peg wall. Surrounding the dendrites and extending into the clefts is an extracellular material of medium electron density. Three sheath cells are associated with each sunken peg sensillum.Subtype-A surface peg sensilla are generally similar to the sunken peg sensilla, except that they are located on the antenna) surface and are innervated by two neurons with unbranched dendrites. Subtype-B surface peg sensilla have three or four neurons, the dendrites of which do not branch and are exposed less to the exterior than those in the other peg sensilla because the clefts in the peg wall are smaller and less frequent. Only trace amounts of electron-dense material occur in the clefts of the subtype-B surface peg sensilla.The sunken peg and both subtypes of the surface peg sensilla are probably olfactory receptors.

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (22) ◽  
pp. 2589-2597 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Edwards

M1-a-mediated resistance in barley to invasion by the CR3 race of Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei does not occur in every host cell with the same speed and severity. In some cells ultrastructural changes within the host cell as a result of resistance will occur within 24 h after inoculation, whereas in other cells these changes may take up to 72 h. In some cells the ultrastructural changes are so drastic that they give the appearance of a hypersensitive death of the host cell, whereas in other cells the changes are very slight. In any case, at the end of these changes the fungus ceases growth. The ultrastructural changes occur in penetrated host epidermal cells as well as non-infected adjacent epidermal and mesophyll cells.The following ultrastructural changes have been observed: (1) an electron-dense material which occurs either free in the vacuole or adhering to the tonoplast (the material is granular or in large clumps); (2) an increased electron density of the host cytoplasm and nucleus; (3) a breakdown of the tonoplast so that the cytoplasmic constituents become dispersed throughout the cell lumen; and (4) the deposition of papillar-like material in areas other than the penetration site. The first three changes take place within the host cell protoplasts and are directly attributable to the gene M1-a. These changes are typical of stress or incompatibility responses and thus M1-a appears to trigger a generalized incompatibility response in the presence of race CR3. The papillar-like material occurs outside the host cell protoplast in the same manner as the papilla and probably is not directly attributable to M1-a.


1984 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-187
Author(s):  
M. Fukumoto

The apical structure in Perophora annectens spermatozoa is approximately 4 micron in length and it is helically coiled. Its major component is a striated structure, which may be analogous to a perforatorium. The plasmalemma enclosing the anterior quarter of the apical structure is covered by extracellular materials, the anterior ornaments. During spermiogenesis, the apical structure is first recognized as a small blister of the plasmalemma at the apex of the young spermatid. It develops into a conical protrusion and then into a finger-like process (approximately 1 micron in length). This process is transformed into an elongated process (approximately 4 micron in length) with electron-dense material in its core. Finally, the elongated process is helically coiled to form an apical structure in which electron-dense material forms dense striations. Vesicles (50-70 nm in diameter), presumably derived from the Golgi apparatus, have been recognized in the blisters of younger spermatids, and can be followed through to the finger-like process. In the finger-like process these vesicles are transformed into smaller vesicles (20-30 nm in diameter), which probably fuse with the anterior plasmalemma of the finger-like process. This suggests that chorion lysin(s) is associated with the anterior membrane enclosing the apical structure in these spermatozoa.


Parasitology ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Shaw

SummaryThe epidermis of Diplectanum aequans has, in general, been found to be similar to the epidermis of other monogeneans, consisting of a syncytial outer epidermis and sunken sub-epidermal nucleated regions. However, the epidermis of D. aequans differs from that of other monogeneans in 3 respects. These are, the presence of large areas of granular cytoplasm within the outer epidermis, the presence of myofibres invaginating into the epidermal matrix and, in the posterior regions of the epidermis, the presence of epidermal scales. These scales occur within the epidermal cytoplasm, beneath the outer membrane, and are composed of moderately electron-dense material. Also present beneath the outer membrane in the more anterior regions of the epidermis are small scale-like sclerites of a similar electron density to the epidermal scales.


1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 1639-1644 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Kalinec ◽  
J H Calderón ◽  
B Monis

The present report deals with a densitometric study of the ultrastructural images of the urothelial membrane of rats in the following experimental conditions: (1) EFA-deficient (EFAD) rats; (2) EFA-sufficient (EFAS) rats; and (3) EFAD rats that were fed the EFAD diet for 30 weeks and received an EFAS diet for the following 10 weeks (EFAD/S group). On electron micrographs of the transitional epithelium of ureters and urinary bladder of these rats, optical density (OD) profiles of the urothelial unit membrane were recorded and digitized using a computer-controlled microdensitometer with a solid-state self-scanned photodiode array sensor. A Gaussian curve was adopted as a model for the distribution of electron-dense material in each osmiophilic leaflet. Gaussian parameters were used to estimate the thickness of the urothelial membrane and of each osmiophilic leaflet, and the amount of electron-dense material and the maximal electron density present in each leaflet. In EFAS rats, the thick urothelial membrane was asymmetric like that of the normal, resulting from a greater thickness of the outer leaflet and a greater electron density of the cytoplasmic one. In EFAD rats, a loss of the characteristic ultrastructural asymmetry and a decrease of the total thickness of the unit membrane were detected. These changes were partially reversed in the EFAD/S rats.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1387-1393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Lowry ◽  
Frederick K. Sparrow

The fine structure of the zoospore of Physoderma gerhardti Schroeter is described. It possesses a single very large lipid body (sometimes accompanied by several smaller ones) situated laterally to the nuclear cap – nucleus complex and is associated with electron-dense material (the microbody) and the single large posteriorly located mitochondrion. The single posterior flagellum proximally terminates in a kinetosome just short of the posterior cone-shaped end of the nucleus. The kinetosome lies in a deep groove in the mitochondrion and is associated with this organelle by striated rootlets. The kinetosome terminates in electron-dense material from which an array of microtubules arises. These microtubules run along the sides of the cone-shaped nucleus and nuclear cap. There is an accessory centriole lying close to and more or less parallel with the kinetosome. The cytoplasm contains a small amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and several inclusion bodies in the anterior region and several small vacuoles in the posterior region of the cell. The general internal organization of the zoospore of Physoderma gerhardti more nearly resembles that of a blastocladiaceous fungus than of any chytrid thus far investigated.


1985 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
T. D. SCHULTZ ◽  
M. A. RANKIN

Samples of cicindelid cuticle were examined at various stages of adult ecdysis. The multilayered potential reflector was secreted in the initial stages of the moult, verifying that it is not tectocuticle and supporting the contention that it is a form of inner epicuticle. At early stages of ecdysis, the electron-dense layers were visible only when the section was post-stained. During post-ecdysial colour development, the dense layer increased in inherent electron density. Concurrently, the reflector increased in refractive index and the interference coloration increased in intensity and wavelength of maximum reflectance. Black pigment was also deposited simultaneously within the outer portion of the cuticle. It is proposed that electron-dense material was deposited in situ within the inner epicuticle after ecdysis, thereby increasing the wavelength and reflectance of interference colour.


Author(s):  
E. N. Albert

Silver tetraphenylporphine sulfonate (Ag-TPPS) was synthesized in this laboratory and used as an electron dense stain for elastic tissue (Fig 1). The procedures for the synthesis of tetraphenylporphine sulfonate and the staining method for mature elastic tissue have been described previously.The fine structure of developing elastic tissue was observed in fetal and new born rat aorta using tetraphenylporphine sulfonate, phosphotungstic acid, uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The newly forming elastica consisted of two morphologically distinct components. These were a central amorphous and a peripheral fibrous. The ratio of the central amorphous and the peripheral fibrillar portion changed in favor of the former with increasing age.It was also observed that the staining properties of the two components were entirely different. The peripheral fibrous component stained with uranyl acetate and/or lead citrate while the central amorphous portion demonstrated no affinity for these stains. On the other hand, the central amorphous portion of developing elastic fibers stained vigorously with silver tetraphenylporphine sulfonate, while the fibrillar part did not (compare figs 2, 3, 4). Based upon the above observations it is proposed that developing elastica consists of two components that are morphologically and chemically different.


Author(s):  
J. R. Ruby ◽  
R. F. Dyer ◽  
R. G. Skalko ◽  
R. F. Gasser ◽  
E. P. Volpe

An electron microscope examination of fetal ovaries has revealed that developing germ cells are connected by intercellular bridges. In this investigation several species have been studied including human, mouse, chicken, and tadpole (Rana pipiens). These studies demonstrate that intercellular connections are similar in morphology regardless of the species.Basically, all bridges are characterized by a band of electron-dense material on the cytoplasmic side of the tri-laminar membrane surrounding the connection (Fig.l). This membrane is continuous with the plasma membrane of the conjoined cells. The dense material, however, never extends beyond the limits of the bridge. Variations in the configuration of intercellular connections were noted in all ovaries studied. However, the bridges in each individual species usually exhibits one structural characteristic seldom found in the others. For example, bridges in the human ovary very often have large blebs projecting from the lateral borders whereas the sides of the connections in the mouse gonad merely demonstrate a slight convexity.


Author(s):  
Alfredo Feria-Velasco ◽  
Guadalupe Tapia-Arizmendi

The fine structure of the Harderian gland has been described in some animal species (hamster, rabbit, mouse, domestic fowl and albino rats). There are only two reports in the literature dealing on the ultrastructure of rat Harderian gland in adult animals. In one of them the author describes the myoepithelial cells in methacrylate-embbeded tissue, and the other deals with the maturation of the acinar cells and the formation of the secretory droplets. The aim of the present work is to analize the relationships among the acinar cell components and to describe the two types of cells located at the perifery of the acini.


It is now generally recognised that future definitions of the units of length will probably be based on the length of a wave of visible light. At present the wave-length of the red radiation of cadmium serves as the basis of all measurements of the lengths of electro-magnetic waves which are perceptible by optical means, and provisional sanction has been given to measurements of length on the same basis, as an alternative to direct reference to the metre. Whether the cadmium red radiation provides the best reference standard for all measurements of length has not yet been definitely established. Two international committees, one representing spectroscopists and the other metrologists, have sanctioned standard specifications for cadmium lamps of the Michelson type from which the red radiation may be produced. The two specifications differ from one another in certain details, but both are subject to the same objections. These objections are directed partly against the high temperature at which it is necessary to run the lamp and partly against the high voltage required to excite the radiation. Therefore, such hyperfine structure and asymmetry as may be present in the red line of cadmium is likely to be masked in the Michelson lamp by a combination of two phenomena —the enhanced Doppler effect due to the high temperature of the radiating cadmium atoms, and the effect of the moderately high intensity of the electric field. Were this not so, it might be somewhat surprising that no definite evidence of fine structure or asymmetry had so far been observed in the red line from the Michelson lamp, notwithstanding the many careful examinations, with the aid of the most sensitive interferometers, to which this line has been subjected, in view of its importance as the reference standard for all other wave-lengths. Recently Nagaoka and Sugiura have recorded that they have observed slight evidences of structure in the red radiation when excited under special conditions in which great precautions were taken to ensure extreme sharpness of the line. It is believed, however, that no subsequent confirmation of this effect has yet been published.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document