Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Sesso

Publications and source records attributed to A Sesso.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Ultrastructural study of the endothelial cells in teleost liver sinusoids under normal and experimental conditions.

The ultrastructure of the endothelial cells of liver sinusoids was studied in the teleost, Pimelodus maculatus. These cells have the ability to form pinocytotic vacuoles, starting with the formation of marginal folds. The latter occur in many cells after stimulation by India ink injections and ink particles are ingested by pinocytosis and by micropinocytosis. Desmosomes, structures rarely described between liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, are present in this species.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural study of Kupffer cells in teleost liver under normal and experimental conditions.

The Kupffer cells in the liver of the teleost fish, Pimelodus maculatus, are attached by desmosomes to the endothelial cells lining the sinusoids. These provide a strong attachment allowing them to resist the passage of blood. Following perfusion with India ink, both endothelial and Kupffer cells ingest India ink particles by pinocytosis and micropinocytosis. It is suggested that both cell types may represent two different functional states of the same cell.

Animals↗

A kinetic and structural study of two-step aggregation and fusion of neutral phospholipid vesicles promoted by serum albumin at low pH.

The addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to 25 +/- 5 nm diameter single bilayer phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles (SBV) (pH 3.5) gives rise to readily visible transient turbidity. Studies of this system, employing a series of techniques, including time-dependent turbidity changes, membrane filtration, centrifugation, Sepharose chromatography and freeze fracture electron microscopy demonstrated that the process involves aggregation and fusion of the vesicles. At least three distinct time-dependent steps have been characterized: (1) the rapid initial formation (in approx. 5 min) of large aggregates (responsible for the visible turbidity) composed of SBV interconnected by BSA in its F form. The formation of these aggregates may be reversed by raising the pH or adding excess BSA to the system at this stage; (2) spontaneous collapse of these large aggregates, in an irreversible step, to form a heterogeneous population of vesicles; (3) fusion produces as the final product of the process, a relatively homogeneous population of larger (50 +/- 10 nm diamter) vesicles. This system serves as a convenient and simple model system for the detailed study of protein-mediated aggregation and fusion of membranes at the molecular level.

Animals↗

Thin section and freeze fracture studies of the hypophyseal proximal pars distalis in a teleost (Rhamdia hilarii Val.) during different stages of the reproductive cycle.

Chromophilic cells in the proximal pars distalis of the adenohypophysis of Rhamdia hilarii were studied in thin section and freeze fracture preparations. The gonadotropic cells (GTH-cells) exhibit a diversity of form, the frequency of which can be related to stages (maturation, mature and spent) in the sexual cycle. GTH-cells showing a cytoplasm filled with electron dense polymorphic secretory granules and small rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) vesicles, have been termed non-vacuolated. During the mature gonadal stage, such cells become increasingly vacuolated. The small RER vesicles become dilated and/or fuse, forming a single enormous cisternum (4--11 micrometer diameter), the contents of which show direct contact with the inner nuclear membrane. These morphological aspects support the idea that Rhamdia hilarii possesses only one GTH-cell type. Evidence from freeze fracture replicas suggests that membrane-associated events precursory to exocytosis take place in regions where the cell and secretory granule membranes are in close apposition. Thin section analysis of secretory granule formation revealed their derivation from the dilated extremities of the inner Golgi saccule which appears to resemble the rigid lamella described in other cells. After detachment of the inner saccule, the immature secretory granules appear to enlarge by microvesicular transport. Freeze fracture and ultrastructural data on the morphology of the cells that presumably synthetise growth hormone are also presented.

Animals↗

Freeze-fracture and thin-section study of condensing vacuoles in rat pancreatic acinar cells.

Early and late developmental forms of condensing vacuoles are prominent in the relatively low rate secreting acinar cells of suckling rat pancreas. These vacuoles, when studied in freeze-fracture replicas and ultrathin sections under standard processing conditions, showed a biphasic evolution. During the first stage the condensing vacuoles (referred to as CV1) enlarge, accumulating contents of rather low electron density. Fracture faces with irregular patterns, possibly the result of fusion (pinching off) of microvesicles with (from) the condensing vacuoles, were occasionally encountered. The infrequency of such images indicates that fusion-fission during the growth stage must be a very rapid event. One common type of surface irregularity is gibbosities (or convexities) in the P fracture face with complementary images in the E fracture face. The significance of these irregularities, which are in apparent discordance with the theory of microvesicular transport, is unclear. By the end of the growing period the condensing vacuoles are large and smooth-surfaced (referred to as CV2) with contents of intermediate electron density (between that of the initial growing stage and that of the mature zymogen granule). The number of intercalated particles on both the large irregularly surfaced CV1) and large smooth-surfaced condensing vacuoles (CV2) membranes is high and comparable to that of the Golgi saccule and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. During the second stage, the smooth-surfaced condensing vacuoles undergo volume reduction associated with progressive increase in the electron density of their contents, thus becoming zymogen granules. Concomitant with size reduction, the number of intercalated particles in the membranes with CV2 diminishes markedly. The process of membrane retrieval appears to be accomplished selectively by pinching off coated microvesicles heavily studded with intercalated particles.

Animals↗

Fine structural analysis of a teleost exocrine pancreas cellular components - a freeze-fracture and transmission electron microscopic study.

The normal exocrine pancreas of Pimelodus maculatus (Teleostei) has been studied by freeze-fracture and conventional transmission electron microscopy. 4 cellular types in the acini are observed: the acinar cells, the argentaffin cells, the intermediate cells and the centroacinar cells. The most proeminent cytoplasmic feature of the acinar cells is that the well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, which appear predominantly under the vesicular form. The argentaffin cells are found lodged between the acinar cells and duct cells, in the connective tissue they are isolated principally that surrounds the ducts. The typical granules are the cytoplasmic component wich characterize the argentaffin cells. The indermediate cells are characterized by the presence of two distinct granule types: one resembling that found in the endocrine cells and the other resembling the granules of the acinar cells. The centroacinar cells is similar that found in other species.

Animals↗

Morphometric evaluation of the number of exocrine pancreatic cells during early postnatal growth in the rat.

The number of the various cell categories of the exocrine pancreas of the rat was evaluated by morphometric methods in paraffin sections of glands from rats aged 2, 5, 15, 20 and 33 days. The evolution of these cell types could be properly expressed by equations of the type y = aoek.x, where y = cell number, and x = age in days. The time necessary for each cell type to duplicate was thus obtained. The percentages (y') of acinar, intercalated duct and connective tissue cells also proved to be age-dependent and could be expressed by second-degree equations.

Age Factors↗

Ultrastructural studies on developing parotid gland of the rat at early postnatal periods.

An electron microscopic study of the exocrine and myoepithelial cells of the parotid gland of the rat between days 2 and 40 of the postpartum was undertaken. Besides confirming morphological data of the literature on the evolution of the acinar cells, the following observations are reported. 1. At early postnatal development in some acini "mucous-like" cells containing secretory granules with light and dense parts may be observed. Cells with these types of granules were not found after day 20. 2. Morphological differentiation and maturation of the myoepithelial cells were followed. A parallelism was observed between the maturation of these myoepithelial cells and of the acinar cells. Myofilaments first appear around the nucleus at day 5 and between days 20 and 30 a considerable amount of these filaments is found in the already typical myoepithelial cells. 3. Active morphogenesis seems to be occurring in all cellular compartments namely at very early postnatal periods, e.g., between days 2 to 15. 4. The distribution and amount of thin and intermediate sized microfilaments in cells of these compartments varied visibly by various orders of magnitude.

Animals↗

Freeze-fracture study of the epidermal cells of a teleost with particular reference to intercellular junctions and permeability to tracer.

The plasmatic membranes, the intercellular junctions and the intercellular spaces of the epidermis of the fish Pimelodus maculatus were studied by freeze-fracture and by lanthanum methods. The observations has confirmed the presence of desmosomes. Gap junctions were not found and the tight junctions can be seen very rarely, arranged to form small discrete maculae. The finger-print pattern due to the microridges of the apical plasma membrane of the superficial cells was studied by direct replicas. The tracer penetrates all the intercellular epidermal spaces but failed to penetrate the dermis, suggesting the presence of a barrier at the dermo-epidermal level.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural morphometric study on developing acinar cells of the rat pancreas and parotid gland.

The fraction of cellular volume occupied by the cytoplasm has been assessed by point-counting volumetry in 0.5 micrometer araldite sections. Measurement of the transection radius of the nuclei of acinar cells allowed the assessment of the mean nuclear volume according to the method of Bach. With these data, the cytoplasm volume was calculated in cubic micrometers. Ultrastructural morphometric data were obtained by means of superimposing on the electron photomicrographies (x 21,000 or x 28,500) a test system of 84 evenly spaced segments according to Weibel et al. The analysis of the values obtained for the pancreas and parotid gland allowed for the supposition that the process of maturation in the rat, either for the pancreas or the parotid gland, occurs simultaneously with the mitotic process, this last being held as the predominating one in the first 3--4 postnatal weeks. The cytodifferentiation process becomes more marked in the last phases studied and on the 40th day it already shows parameters held as similar to those of the adult animal.

Animals↗

Relationship between glomerular mesangial cell proliferation and amyloid deposition as seen by ultrastructural and morphometric analysis in experimental kala-azar of the hamster.

Light and electron microscopic studies combined with a morphometric analysis of the hamster glomerulus in experimental kala-azar showed progressive hyperplasia of mesangial cells beginning on the 10th day and reaching a peak on the 20th day after infection. Afterward, the number of mesangial cells declined and a progressive rise of amyloid deposits over the mesangial matrix was observed. This system for amyloid production is unique if we consider that probably one cell, the mesangial cell, is involved in glomerular amyloid deposition. Our data support a slight modification in the sequence of events of the biphasic theory of amyloid formation. We observed that the number of mesangial cells declines when amyloid deposition increases and that mesangial cell morphology in this stage is not that of an actively secreting cell. It is therefore hypothesized that amyloid precursor material is secreted into the matrix during the proliferative phase. In the second phase, amyloid deposits occur in the extracellular media close to functionally impaired mesangial cells.

Amyloid↗

Human chronic Mansonian schistosomiasis-cell proliferation and fibre formation in the hepatic sinusoidal wall: a morphometric, light and electron-microscopy study.

A morphometric, light and electron-microscopy study of the sinusoids in human Mansonian schistosomiasis with and without portal hypertension showed a sequence of events beginning with an increased number of cell nuclei, particularly evident at the centrolobular region. This is followed by deposition of reticulin fibres along the perisinusoidal space. Later, increased numbers of cells and reticulin fibres are seen throughout the lobule. Other findings, such as reduplication of the sinusoidal lining and the focal appearance beneath the cell layer of the thin discontinuous membrane, were also reported. This perisinusoidal fibrosis probably adds an element of heightened intrasinusoidal pressure to the perisinusoidal hypertension already described in this disease. Its pathogenic mechanism is obscure. The hepatic sinusoids in Mansonian schistosomiasis receive mainly arterial blood. High intraluminal pressure could be one explanation of the perisinusoidal fibrosis in these cases. However, as possibly occurs in primary sinusoidal portal hypertension, chronic immunological stimulation leading to proliferation of Küpffer cells and lipocytes could be an alternative mechanism.

Cell Division↗

[Ultrastructural study of the germinal cells of ovary of Penaeus paulensis (author's transl)].

The ultrastructural study of the germinal cells of Penaeus paulensis was carried out on the immature (stage I), in maturation (stage II) and mature ovary (stage III). The stage I is characterized by numerous peripheral nucleolar systems which are formed by a fibrillar central portion entoured by a fibrillogranular nucleolonema. There are no yolk granules in the cytoplasm. The stage II is characterized by the onset of the vitellogenesis and a close morphological relationship exists between the endoplasmic reticulum and the systhesis and deposition of yolk. The stage III is recognized by the presence of the "peripheral bodies" in the peripheral cytoplasm of the germ cells. These structures are separated from the adjacent cytoplasm by the cell membrane and possibly represent an accumulation of extracellular material comparable to the zona pellucida.

Animals↗

Ultrastructure of the epidermal cells of the teleost Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803 (pisces).

By means of electronmicroscope technique were studied the cell types in the epidermis of the teleost Pimelodus maculatus LACEPEDE. The varied cells were described after their morphological aspect. The behaviour of the plasma membrane and the cytoplasmatic components, especially the microfilaments and the rough endoplasmatic reticulum, were discussed in the functionally manner of this cells. The relationship of the cell types to the mitotic cell cycle gave some interesting references.

Animals↗

Cell proliferation, differentiation and transformation in the rat submandibular gland during early postnatal growth. A quantitative and morphological study.

The development of the submandibular gland of the rat was studied between days 2 and 55 of the postpartum. Besides confirming previous ultrastructural findings wer observed at the electron microscope that the architecturally complex terminal tubules, proacinar, acinar and striated duct cells retained mitosis the major ultrastructural features they exhibited in interphase. The ultrastructure of cells that were in the S period of the proliferative cycle was evaluated in high resolution autoradiographs from rats injected with thymidine-H3. All cell types were thus studied and no obvious cytoarchitectural modifications could be detected in these cells preparing for dividion. We obtained ultrastructural evidence that between days 20 and 30 some terminal tubule cells undergo transformation into acinar cells. The intercalated duct cells showed the highest rate of proliferation and the lowest daily increment in number. This suggests that cells from the intercalated ducts migrate to the neighboring morphological compartments. Quantitative data on the rate of cell proliferation and accumulation in the straited duct indicated that cells from the intercalcated ducts should differentiate into straited duct cells. Differentiation of intercalated duct cells into the terminal tubule cells was observed with the electron microscope.

Age Factors↗