Nuclear activity in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) queen ovary cells demonstrated by silver nitrate impregnation and ultrastructure

Este estudo mostra, por meio de microscopia convencional, impregnação por nitrato de prata e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, as mudanças que ocorrem na atividade nuclear de células do ovário durante a vitelogênese de Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758). Material impregnado por nitrato de prata foi detectado no núcleo de células nutridoras, na vesícula germinal do ovócito e no núcleo das células foliculares. As maiores quantidades de material impregnado pela prata foram observadas durante as fases de maior atividade dessas estruturas. A impregnação por prata permitiu demonstrar que a vesícula germinal sintetiza ribonucleoproteínas (RNP) durante o início da vitelogênese. A ultraestrutura mostrou que o material impregnado apresenta características morfológicas de nucléolos.

Nodule ultrastructure and initial growth of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. var. falcata (Benth.) Altschul plants infected with rhizobia

The anatomy and ultrastructure of root nodules of Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) were analysed, as was plant growth. To ensure that nodules developed, seedlings were inoculated with a mixture of six strains of rhizobia. Nodules were produced that differed in appearance-and probably also effectiveness-but their structure was similar and they showed characteristics typical of indeterminate nodules, such as persistent meristematic tissue and a gradient of cells at different stages of development. Many starch grains were present in inner cortex cells and interstitial cells of infected tissue. Infected cells were densely packed with bacteroids, which contained many poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules. The high incidence of these granules, together with high levels of starch accumulation in interstitial cells, suggested low N-2-fixation efficiency of the rhizobia isolates used for inoculation. In the symbiosomes of early-senescent infected cells, reticulum-like structures, small vesicles and a fibrillar material were observed; these may be related to bacteroid degradation. In the cytoplasm of late-senescent infected cells, many vesicles and membrane-like structures were observed, probably associated with membrane degradation of bacteroids and peribacteroids. The total biomass of plants inoculated with rhizobia was low and their xylopodia and shoots had low levels of N compared with non-inoculated plants fertilized with ammonium nitrate. However, inoculated plants did not show N-deficiency symptoms and grew better than non-inoculated plants without N fertilization. These growth results, together with ultrastructural observations of nodules, suggest that nitrogen fixation of rhizobia isolates associated with Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata roots is poor. (C) 2002 Annals of Botany Company.

Structure, histochemistry, and ultrastructure of the epithelium and stroma in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) female prostate

The female prostate has aroused scientific interest because it is subjected to the same diseases compromising the male prostate during aging. The objective of this work was to characterize structurally, cytochemically, and ultrastructurally the tissue compartments of the normal adult female prostate of Meriones unguiculatus gerbils. The morphological analyses showed that the gerbil's female prostate is constituted of a cluster of glands and ducts inserted in a musculofibrous stroma. The alveolar epithelium is differentiated and consisted of basal proliferating cells, intermediary cells, and secretory cells. The secretory cells are the most numerous cell type and continuously secrete glycoproteins. The basal cells are the source of the secretory cells and they are then responsible for the alveolus renovation. The prostatic stroma is abundant and rich in elastic and collagen fibers, which are closely associated with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The results showed that the gerbil's female prostate shows morphological and ultrastructural homology to the human female prostate (Skene's gland), and despite being a small organ, it is a mature and physiologically active gland. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Liver Anatomy, Histochemistry, and Ultrastructure of Eupemphix nattereri (Anura: Leiuperidae) During the Breeding Season

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Implications of obesity for tendon structure, ultrastructure and biochemistry: A study on Zucker rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis in the white-lined broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Colleters in Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae) ontogenesis, ultrastructure and secretion

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparative description and discussion of spermiogenesis and spermatozoal ultrastructure in some species of Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

Os dados obtidos no presente estudo sobre a ultraestrutura da espermiogênese e dos espermatozóides de Pseudopimelodidae e Heptapteridae mostram que eles compartilham algumas características, mas são bastante diferentes uns dos outros. As principais diferenças são a ocorrência de espermiogênese do tipo I em Pseudopimelodidae e do tipo III em Heptapteridae, a presença de fossa nuclear em Pseudopimelodidae e sua ausência em Heptapteridae, a presença de uma peça intermediária longa em Pseudopimelodidae e uma peça intermediária curta em Heptapteridae, a presença de um canal citoplasmático em Pseudopimelodidae e sua ausência em Heptapteridae, a presença de muitas vesículas grandes na peça intermediária de Pseudopimelodidae, e a presença de vesículas muito alongadas e dispostas em posição periférica distal em Heptapteridae e mitocôndrias distribuídas em toda a peça intermediária de Pseudopimelodidae e muito próximas ao núcleo em Heptapteridae. Heptapteridae e Pimelodidae compartilham várias características como a espermiogênese do tipo III, o mesmo padrão de condensação da cromatina e a ausência de fossa nuclear e projeções laterais ou fins. O espermatozóide de Pseudopimelodidae é mais similar aos dos Siluridae, porém a ausência de dados adicionais sobre a espermiogênese e o espermatozóide de outros siluriformes ainda limitam uma discussão mais ampla na ordem.

Comparative analysis of spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure in Callichthyidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

Em Corydoradinae, a presença de espermátides junto com espermatozóides no lúmen dos túbulos testiculares sugere uma espermatogênese do tipo semicística, enquanto que em Callichthyinae a produção do esperma ocorre inteiramente dentro dos espermatocistos no epitélio germinativo, caracterizando a espermatogênese cística. A espermiogênese em Callichthyinae é caracterizada por um desenvolvimento inicial lateral do flagelo, pela presença de rotação nuclear em diferentes graus, formação de uma fossa nuclear excêntrica ou medial, formação de um canal citoplasmático, e presença de migração centriolar, sendo mais similar à espermiogênese do tipo I. em Corydoradinae, a espermiogênese é caracterizada pelo desenvolvimento excêntrico do flagelo, ausência de rotação nuclear, fossa nuclear excêntrica, formação de um canal citoplasmático, e ausência de migração centriolar, diferindo dos tipos descritos previamente. O processo de espermatogênese e espermiogênese em Corydoradinae e Callichthyinae revelaram caracteres únicos para cada subfamília, corroborando a hipótese de que as mesmas constituem grupos monofiléticos. em relação à ultraestrutura do esperma, a análise comparativa das espécies de Callichthyidae mostra que as características gerais encontradas nos espermatozóides foram similares, reforçando a hipótese de monofilia da família.

Anatomy, ultrastructure and secretion of Hibiscus pernambucensis Arruda (Malvaceae) extrafloral nectary

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructure of ovarian follicular epithelium of the Amazonian fish Pseudotylosurus microps (Teleostei: Belonidae): morphological and histochemical characterization of the intercellular deposits

Neste trabalho é mostrada a grande quantidade de material eletrondenso intercelular no epitélio folicular de P. microps. Aparentemente, o material é captado da circulação e enviado para o folículo por meio dos espaços intercelulares, acumulando-se nos espaços intercelulares médio-apicais do epitélio e no espaço perioocítico. A acumulação é iniciada no oócito primário e prossegue até a vitelogênese. A natureza química desse material é discutida.

CYTOPLASMIC AND PLASMA-MEMBRANE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PARACOCCIDIOIDES-BRASILIENSIS YEAST-PHASE CELLS AS REVEALED BY FREEZE-ETCHING

Using a freeze-etch technique the cytoplasmic and plasma membrane ultrastructure of Paracoccidiodies brasiliensis yeast-phase cells was studied. The multinucleate yeast-phase cells which grow by simultaneous multiple budding, like those of Mucor sp. contain several nuclei, mitochondria, well-developed ER, small vacuoles and lipid droplets. Complex structures with no apparent connexion to the plasma membrane of P. brasiliensis usually lack inveginations, but invaginations which do occur are always rod-shaped which indicates P. brasiliensis to be of either ascomycetous or basidiomycetous origin.

Functional ultrastructure of the midgut of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Forel 1904 (Formicidae : Myrmicinae)

Solenopsis saevissima has a midgut composed of columnar, regenerative, and goblet cells. The midgut epithelium was covered by a basal lamina. Outside the basal lamina, layers of inner oblique, circular, and outer longitudinal muscles were present. Columnar cells showed a basal plasma membrane containing numerous folds, mitochondria, and the nucleus. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, membrane bounded vacuoles, and spherocrystals were found in this region. The apical plasma membrane was constituted by microvilli, which were above a region rich in mitochondria. Regenerative cells were found in groups lying by the basal lamina. Goblet cells were associated with an ion-transporting mechanism between the haemolymph and the midgut epithelium. These cells were lying by the midgut lumen and large microvilli were evident, but the cytoplasmic features were similar to the columnar cells.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE GERMINATIVE EPITHELIUM IN A GOAT WITH A 5/15-ROBERTSONIAN TRANSLOCATION

The spermatogenesis of two goats bearing a 5/15 Robertsonian translocation was investigated by electron microscopy. There was no dramatic change in the morphology of the cells of the spermatic line. All cells of the seminiferous epithelium seemed quite normal at the ultrastructural level. However a certain disturbance in the cell localization and some morphological abnormalities involving nuclear structure were seen. Spermatocytes and spermatids normal in appearance were observed, but a great number of cells presented two or more nuclei. These cells were frequently seen to become degenerated during spermatogenesis. We believe that unbalanced spermatocytes degenerate during the process and only some spermatocytes succeed in fertilizing gametes.