Identification of Glycogen in Thin Sections of Amphibian Embryos

1967 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264
Author(s):  
MARGARET M. PERRY

Embryonic amphibian cells when examined with the electron microscope were observed to contain an abundance of small particles, approximately 325 Å in diameter. The periodic acid/Schiff reaction and enzymic digestion were employed to determine the nature of the particles, and from the results of these tests they were concluded to be glycogen. Treatment of thin sections with periodic acid/lead citrate solutions resulted in a marked increase in contrast of the glycogen particles compared with other cell structures, and in a clearly defined substructure of 40-Å grains appearing within the particles. This differential staining method enabled the particulate glycogen to be distinguished from ribosomes.

1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 579-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERNARD P. LANE ◽  
DOMINIC L. EUROPA

A convenient method is described for the removal of Epon 812 from thin sections, utilizing a saturated solutions of sodium hydroxide. The tissue architecture and ultrastructural details are preserved. Hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and phosphotungstic-hematoxylin staining modifications are suggested which result in differentiation similar to that seen in paraffin sections. The technique is applicable to ultrathin sections suitable for examination with the electron microscope, allowing comparison of staining characteristics and fine structure of adjacent thin sections.


Author(s):  
J. R. Ruby

Parotid glands were obtained from five adult (four male and one female) armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) which were perfusion-fixed. The glands were located in a position similar to that of most mammals. They extended interiorly to the anterior portion of the submandibular gland.In the light microscope, it was noted that the acini were relatively small and stained strongly positive with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue techniques, confirming the earlier results of Shackleford (1). Based on these qualities and other structural criteria, these cells have been classified as seromucous (2). The duct system was well developed. There were numerous intercalated ducts and intralobular striated ducts. The striated duct cells contained large amounts of PAS-positive substance.Thin sections revealed that the acinar cells were pyramidal in shape and contained a basally placed, slightly flattened nucleus (Fig. 1). The rough endoplasmic reticulum was also at the base of the cell.


1990 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-279
Author(s):  
A. Corsi ◽  
A. L. Granata ◽  
O. Hudlicka

Muscle performance and structure was studied in rat soleus muscle with limited blood supply in combination with chronic muscle stimulation. Blood supply to the lower leg was restricted by ligation of the common iliac artery, electrodes were implanted in the vicinity of the sciatic nerve and ankle flexors were denervated. Three days later, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were stimulated at 4 Hz four times a day for a period of 20 min with 2 h intervals between stimulations; this procedure was continued for 4 days. Muscle performance, histochemistry and ultrastructure were studied on the eighth day after operation in these muscles and in ischaemic unstimulated muscles with denervated ankle flexors. Both were compared with control animals. Muscles with limited blood supply developed less isometric twitch tension than control muscles (peak twitch tension in ischaemic muscle was 60.3 +/− 4.8 g g-1 muscle, mean +/− S.E.M., compared to 79.7 +/− 6.9 g g-1 in control muscle; tensions after 5 min contraction were 54.5 +/− 5.5 g g-1 in ischaemic muscle compared to 70.6 +/− 6 g g-1 in controls). Stimulated muscles with limited blood supply had higher peak (85 +/− 16.6 g g-1) and final (87 +/− 12 g g-1) tensions, and also fatigued less than muscles with limited blood supply but no stimulation. Histochemical estimation of capillary density (by staining for alkaline phosphatase) and slow (SO) and fast (FOG) fibres (by myosin ATPase staining) revealed similar capillary to fibre ratios (2.5) and a similar proportion of FOG fibres (around 18%) in all muscles. The proportion of glycogen-depleted fibres (estimated from the periodic acid Schiff reaction, PAS) in muscles removed from animals 10 min after a 5 min period of isometric twitches was significantly lower in ischaemic muscles (45.1 +/− 1.9%) than in control (80.5 +/− 1.5%) or chronically stimulated ischaemic muscles (67.3 +/− 4.0%). Electron microscopy showed disorganised myofibrils with Z-line streaming in 7.48 +/− 3.04% of fibres in muscles with limited blood supply. Swollen and degenerated mitochondria, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum and areas of disrupted sarcolemma were also observed. Stimulated ligated muscles showed a significantly lower proportion of fibres with disorganised filaments (0.65 +/− 0.32%) and other signs of damage were much less frequent. The reduced damage and improved performance of chronically stimulated slow muscle may be the result of improved microcirculation, preventing accumulation of lactate.


2018 ◽  
Vol 399 (9) ◽  
pp. 1009-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihui Guo ◽  
Peter Briza ◽  
Viktor Magdolen ◽  
Hans Brandstetter ◽  
Peter Goettig

Abstract Human kallikrein-related peptidases 3, 4, 11, and KLK2, the activator of KLK3/PSA, belong to the prostatic group of the KLKs, whose major physiological function is semen liquefaction during the fertilization process. Notably, these KLKs are upregulated in prostate cancer and are used as clinical biomarkers or have been proposed as therapeutic targets. However, this potential awaits a detailed characterization of these proteases. In order to study glycosylated prostatic KLKs resembling the natural proteases, we used Leishmania (LEXSY) and HEK293 cells for secretory expression. Both systems allowed the subsequent purification of soluble pro-KLK zymogens with correct propeptides and of the mature forms. Periodic acid-Schiff reaction, enzymatic deglycosylation assays, and mass spectrometry confirmed the glycosylation of these KLKs. Activation of glycosylated pro-KLKs 4 and 11 turned out to be most efficient by glycosylated KLK2 and KLK4, respectively. By comparing the glycosylated prostatic KLKs with their non-glycosylated counterparts from Escherichia coli, it was observed that the N-glycans stabilize the KLK proteases and change their activation profiles and their enzymatic activity to some extent. The functional role of glycosylation in prostate-specific KLKs could pave the way to a deeper understanding of their biology and to medical applications.


1974 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 986-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. REID ◽  
C. F. A. CULLING ◽  
W. L. DUNN

The histochemical use of methylation has complex results; particularly in respect of the periodic acid-Schiff reaction, these are analyzed and discussed. Methods are described which allow the separate study of the following effects: (a) the removal of the KOH/periodic acid-Schiff effect; (b) removal of sialic acid from a potential vicinal diol; and (c) the removal of O-sulfate ester from a potential vicinal diol. The use of the Smith degradation technique, in addition to the above, also allows inferences to be drawn in respect of the structure of the mucins (glycoproteins) being investigated.


1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Baldo ◽  
D Barnett ◽  
JW Lee

Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectin from wheat-gem, which binds N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and Griffonia simplicifolia, Arachis hypogaea and Glycine max lectins, each of which binds D-galactose, react with nucellar epidermal cell walls in thin sections of plastic-embedded developing wheat grain. Reactivity of these cell walls with periodic acid-Schiff reagent, the absence of staining with protein stains and the failure of a number of proteases and the endoglycosidases D and H to prevent the binding suggested that the lectin-reactive wall components are neither proteins nor N-glycosidically linked glycoproteins. Morphological differences in lectin staining patterns and treatment of sections with chitinase and α-galactosidase, prior to the reaction with the lectins, indicated that two separate polysaccharides are probably involved in the binding. Chitinase removed the reactivity of the nucellar epidermal cell walls for wheat-germ lectin but the binding of D-galactose-specific lectins was unimpaired. Conversely, α-galactosidase did not affect the binding of wheat-germ lectin but reactivity with the galactose-specific lectins was abolished. From the available evidence we conclude that one polysaccharide in the nucellar epidermal cell wall reacts with wheat-germ lectin and contains N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in a chitin-like structure. The other polysaccharide reacts with D-galactose- specific lectins by virtue of terminal α-D-galactose residues. Hydrolysis and subsequent chromatographic analysis of nucellar epidermal cell walls peeled from immature grains revealed the presence of D-glucosamine, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose and a trace of D-mannose.


Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Fradera ◽  
E Velez-Garcia ◽  
JG White

Abstract The classification of the acute leukemias depends mainly on the morphologic and cytochemical evaluation of the blast forms. One of the main accepted morphologic criteria in the differentiation between acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is the absence of granules in the blast cells of ALL. We evaluated a patient with ALL in whom granules were present in the cytoplasm of 35% of the blast cells, as seen in AML. Cytochemical evaluation was performed, including periodic acid-Schiff reaction, Sudan black B, alpha-naphthyl acetate, alpha-naphthyl butyrate, naphthol AS-D chloroacetate, and acid phosphatase stains. The results of these studies confirmed the morphologic impression and diagnosis of ALL. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed that the granules consisted of many tiny vesicles closely packed together in a proteinaceous matrix, resembling to some extent the inclusions described in lymphocytes in the Chediak-Higashi syndrome, but clearly different. The morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural studies of this unique case are presented in detail. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such granules have been described in blast cells of ALL.


1960 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 351-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronan O'Rahilly ◽  
David B. Meyer

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 368-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANITA C. BEEN ◽  
ELLEN M. RASCH

Proteins extracted from individual pairs of salivary glands or other larval tissues of Sciara coprophila (Diptera) were separated in a vertical microsystem for discontinuous electrophoresis using thin sheets of polyacrylamide gel cast in multiple layers of varying pore size. After electrophoresis at 150 volts for 40 min, gels were stained ( a) for total proteins with Coomassie brilliant blue, ( b) for glycoproteins with the periodic acid-Schiff reaction, ( c) for lipoproteins with Sudan black B or ( d) for nonspecific esterases with fast blue RR as coupler and α-naphthol acetate as substrate. Sequential application of these reactions to individual gel sectors permitted direct comparisons of protein profiles for 15-20 different samples of tissue extracts carried on a single gel sheet in adjacent lanes and thus subjected to identical conditions of electrophoresis. Representative photographs and densitometric scans are presented to show the suitability of thin gel sheets for autoradiography and for both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of tissue-specific differences in patterns of protein banding found for salivary gland cells, the gastric ceca, or the hemolymph of individual Sciara larvae sacrificed at particular stages of fourth instar development. Innovative details of methodology are presented, including the use of a microspectrophotometer to scan electropherograms of insect proteins and several types of human blood serum.


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