Two new species of the genus Leccinellum (Boletaceae, Boletales) from the south of China

Two new species of Leccinellum, viz. L. alborufescens and L. fujianense are described based on morphological and molecular evidence. Both species have a rugulose or pitted brown pileus, a red color change of hymenophore and context, and a pileipellis and stipitipellis composed of chains of subglobose to pyriform cells. The differences between them are the width of the hyphae in the pileipellis and the range of distribution as well as the molecular data. Leccinellum alborufescens has hyphae in the pileipellis up to 13 μm in width, and a distribution in tropical China, whereas L. fujianense has pileipellis hyphae up to 20 μm in width, and a distribution in subtropical China. Detailed descriptions, color photos of fresh basidiomata and line drawings of the microstructures of the two new species are presented.

Untangling the hidden intrathalline microalgal diversity in Parmotrema pseudotinctorum: Trebouxia crespoana sp. nov.

Intrathalline phycobiont diversity was investigated in a rosette-forming lichen, Parmotrema pseudotinctorum, using a combination of Sanger sequencing, 454-pyrosequencing, conventional light and confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A total of 39 thalli sampled in five Canary Island populations were investigated. Three novel lineages of lichen phycobionts were detected, all being inferred within the Trebouxia clade G. The most abundant phycobiont lineage, occurring in all lichen populations investigated, is described here as Trebouxia crespoana sp. nov. This species produces spherical to pyriform cells possessing a crenulate chloroplast with lobes elongated at their ends, and one corticola-type pyrenoid with very thin, unbranched tubules of curved profile. Trebouxia crespoana is clearly distinguished from all other Trebouxia species by a characteristic cap-like cell wall thickening produced on one side of vegetative cells, and the larger size of vegetative cells that reach 21(–26) µm in diameter.

Cellular and synaptic properties of amygdala-kindled pyriform cortex in vitro

The evoked and spontaneous activity of neurons in the pyriform cortex of control and kindled rats was examined using a coronal slice preparation containing the amygdala-pyriform region. Electrical stimulation of the amygdala nuclei elicited synchronized burst responses in pyriform cells of slices from both control and kindled animals. The mean duration of the burst was greatly prolonged in cells from kindled preparations. The depolarizing synaptic events underlying the burst response in the kindled and control animals could be examined when Mg2+ was increased to suppress but not block synaptic transmission. Electrical stimulation evoked a short-latency graded synaptic depolarization, followed by a long-latency all-or-none depolarizing event, which appeared to be involved in generating the burst response. Norepinephrine (NE), in a 4-microM concentration, reversibly blocked the burst responses in the control preparation. Burst responses elicited from kindled preparations were also suppressed by NE. For the latter cases, higher concentrations of NE were required to produce this effect. The alpha-2-agonist clonidine mimicked the suppressive action of NE on the evoked events. In contrast the beta-agonist isoproterenol facilitated the occurrence of spontaneous synchronous bursts and prolonged evoked burst discharges in both the control and kindled preparations. NE and clonidine block the burst response by suppressing the underlying synaptic events. The facilitatory action of isoproterenol on spontaneous and evoked responses suggests that NE may also exert an excitatory effect.

The histology, ultrastructure, and histochemistry of the ventral surfaces of Catatropis verrucosa (Froelich, 1789) Odhner, 1905 and Paramonostomum alveatum (Mehlis in Creplin, 1846) Lühe, 1909 (Digenea: Notocotylidae)

Catatropis verrucosa (Froelich 1789) Odhner 1905 and Paramonostomum alveatum (Mehlis in Creplin, 1846) Lühe 1909 were examined using light and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The ventral ridge, papillae, and body margins of C. verrucosa contained numerous pyriform cells packed with mitochondria. Paramonostomum alveatum has no ventral projections and no pyriform cells full of mitochondria were seen within the worms. Both species contained numerous large electron-dense inclusions in various tissues throughout the body. Histochemistry indicated that these inclusions were lipid or lipoprotein, but their function is unknown. Protein, including haemoglobin, and lipid were identified within the pyriform cells of C. alveatum. Paramonostomum is the only genus within the Notocotylinae examined to date that has no ventral projections nor any internal aggregation of cells packed with mitochondria.

The haemoglobins and respiratory enzymes in the ventral papillae of Notocotylus triserialis Diesing 1839 (Digenea: Notocotylidae)

Ventral papillae of Notocotylus triserialis contain pyriform cells filled with mitochondria. To investigate the possible respiratory function of the papillae, N. triserialis was examined histochemically for numerous respiratory enzymes. α-Glycerophosphate, succinate, glutamate, lactate, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases and cytochrome oxidase were identified within the pyriform cells of the ventral papillae and lateral margins of the worm.Living N. triserialis are red, particularly the ventral papillae and lateral margins of the worms. Using spectroscopy, this pigment was identified as a true oxyhaemoglobin, with the α and β peaks at 570–580 and 530–540 nm, respectively, corresponding closely with those of its experimentally infected chicken host haemoglobin. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed three, possibly four, haemoglobins in N. triserialis, distinct from the two chicken haemoglobins. During in vitro experiments the bright red colour of the worms turned to a dull grey–blue when worms were deprived of oxygen and the red colour returned upon addition of oxygen to the culture medium. This suggested that the haemoglobins of N. triserialis had the ability to deoxygenate and reoxygenate in vitro.

The structure and possible function of the ventral papillae of Notocotylus triserialis Diesing, 1839

SUMMARYNotocotylus triserialis bears three rows of eversible papillae on its ventral surface. These papillae, which in living worms are firmly applied to the host mucosa, contain numerous pyriform cells. Histochemical tests indicate the presence, within the papillar cells, of protein, lipid, haemoglobin and esterase, and the absence of carbohydrate, acid mucopolysaccharide, RNA, haemosiderin and acid and alkaline phosphatase. Transmission electron microscopy shows the tegument of the papillae to be similar to the non-papillar ventral tegument. The pyriform cells contain many mitochondria with numerous cristae. A mechanism is proposed whereby the musculature of the worm effects the retraction and eversion of the ventral papillae.

The differentiation and proliferation of follicle cells during oocyte growth in Lacerta sicula

The follicular epithelium of the lizard oocytes undergoes structural and morphological modifications throughout oocyte growth. During this process the number of follicle cells increases and the epithelium acquires a multilayered and polymorphic organization which is characterized by the appearance of large follicle cells (intermediate and pyriform cells). The number of large cells also increases during oocyte growth and this increase parallels that of small cells. However, only the small cells become labelled one hour after [3H-]thymidine administration. Large cells have been found labelled after a longer period of time, i.e. 4–5 months after isotope injection. All these results together indicate that large follicle cells arise from the differentiation of small cells.