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[Fluorescence microscopy demonstration of mitochondria in tissue culture cells using berberine].

The possibility of fluorescence microscopical examination of mitochondria in living animal cells using fluorochrome berberine sulphate is shown. At concentrations of 30--50 g per ml the chemical is accumulated selectively in mitochondria of living cells. The specificity of berberine sulphate accumulation in mitochondria was shown by comparative phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy. The advantages of the method is its high sensitivity and simplicity, especially when mitochondria can not be examined by the phase contrast microscopy.

Animals↗

[Methods for the biological testing of dental materials on cell cultures].

This paper discusses some of the methods used by for making basic biological tests of stomatological materials. Although we do not dispense with the use of methods based upon the observation of fixed and, possibly, stained cells and allowing the states assumed by cells in a certain period of time to be noted, yet we believe that far better results may be obtained from tests enabling the development of changes of living cells cultivated in vitro to be followed. The results of the experiments conducted by the authors indicate that it is possible for the final effect to be modified in dependence upon the type of material used, its concentration, or the time allowed to elapse from the preparation of the particular material and that an observation of living cells procides much more information about the character of alterations and, more specifically about the time course of changes. If necessary, this method may be supplemented by an electronmicroscopical analysis of the changes produced.

Cells, Cultured↗

[Morphological virus diagnosis--electron microscopy study of animal viruses with negative contrast procedure].

Reported in this paper are results obtained in morphological virus diagnosis by using the negative contrast technique on the basis of electron microscopy. The availability of high-efficiency electron microscopy as well as of perfectly improved techniques of preparation, knowledge of the latest virus model concepts, and indivudual skills in diagnosis are essential conditions for the above approach. Parvoviridae, picornaviridae, and togaviridae are identifiable only in high particle concentrations and by group representation. Papovaviridae, adenoviridae, herpetoviridae, poxviridae, and reoviridae, on the other hand, can be safely identified even as single particles. The diagnosis of orthomyxoviridae, paramyxoviridae, rhabdoviridae, and retroviridae is facilitated by their own dimensions and their characteristic helico-symmmetrical nucleocapside. Coronaviridae are of highly conspicuous morphology but, nevertheless, pose problems in differential diagnosis. Substantive improvement of morphological virus diagnosis, in terms of minute details, may be achieved by means of the negative contrast method on the basis of immune electron microscopy. Advantages implied in that morphological method include less time-consuming and quite uninvolved practicability and good dependability of diagnosis for more efficient decision-making in research and practice.

Animals↗

Tissue culture isolation and preservation of human cadaveric pancreatic islets.

Six specimens of human cadaveric pancreas were collagenase-dispersed and placed in tissue culture. Media were changed at 2 day intervals and assayed for insulin and amylase. Experiments were terminated after 8 days, and phase-contrast and light microscopy were performed on cultured tissue. Insulin content in media remained high for 6 days in five cases and for 8 days in four experiments; this correlated directly with morphologic viability of cultured tissue. Media amylase fell to zero after 4 days in four cases and after 6 days in two cases. These data support the concept that tissue culture may be an efficient method for (1) islet cell purification, since acinar tissue and amylase activity disappear, and (2) islet preservation.

Adult↗

Attachment of virulent Treponema pallidum to human mononuclear phagocytes.

The predominant phagocyte in established human syphilitic lesions is the mononuclear phagocyte. As these leucocytes may be important in immunity to Treponema pallidum, the initial interaction between human phagocytes and pathogenic T. pallidum (Nichols strain) was studied in vitro. Motile, virulent T. pallidum attach to the surface membrane of phagocytes but are not ingested by these cells. Heated, non-motile treponemes are not cell-associated but are observed free in the extracellular medium. Attachment is polar, at one or both terminal portions of the treponeme, and is neither serum- nor complement-dependent. Ingestion of virulent treponemes was not observed by phase-contrast or by electron microscopy in the presence of normal human or rabbit serum and complement. Techniques were chosen to preserve both the fragile surface constituents of the treponeme and the phagocytic function of mononuclear cells. Unfixed preparations were observed by phase-contrast microscopical examination during incubation to differentiate motile from non-motile organisms and fixed preparations were used for quantitation of attachment. This model should be useful for studying humoral and cell-mediated immunity in syphilis.

Cell Adhesion↗

Light and electron microscopic histochemistry of the monoamines in the human foetal sympathetic ganglion in culture.

Sympathetic ganglia of 13 to 19-week-old human foetuses were cultured in small pieces with and without nerve growth factor for up to 5 weeks in vitro. The cultures were studied using phase-contrast, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Monoamines were demonstrated with the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence method, with and without pretreatment of the cultures with catecholamines or monoamine oxidase inhibitor. In the long-term cultures, primitive sympathetic cells, sympathicoblasts of types I and II, and young sympathetic neurons showed a fine structure identical to that described earlier in vivo. There were virtually no satellite or Schwann cells in the cultures. The neurons showed a considerable capacity to grow new nerve fibres in culture, even without nerve growth factor. Nerve terminals with accumulations of synaptic vesicles were regularly observed, occasionally in synapse-like contact with other nervous structures. Large granular vesicles were regularly found in the sympathicoblasts after glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide fixation. After permanganate fixation, dense-cored vesicles typical of adrenergic neurons were not seen, either in the perikarya, or in the processes, although it was possible to demonstrate specific fluorescence. No small intensity fluorescent (SIF) cells were observed. Variable formaldehyde-induced fluorescence was observed in the nerve cell perikarya and nerve fibres. The intensity of the fluorescence increased after treatment of the cultures with monoamine oxidase inhibitor and after incubation with catecholamines.

Axons↗

Aggregation of microtubule initiation sites preceding neurite outgrowth in mouse neuroblastoma cells.

By examining microtubule regrowth using immunofluorescence with antibody to tubulin, we have studied the structure and intracellular localization of microtubule initiation sites in undifferentiated and differentiated mouse neuroblastoma cells. The undifferentiated cells are round and lack cell processes. They contain an average of 12 initiation sites per cell. Each of these sites, which are located near the cell nucleus, initiates the growth of several microtubules in a radial formation. In contrast to the undifferentiated cells, neuroblastoma cells stimulated to differentiate by serum deprivation are asymmetrical, containing one or two very long neurites. These cells have a single, large microtubule initiation center which can be visualized not only by immunofluorescence but by phase-contrast and differential interference microscopy as well. The initiation site measures 3-4 mu in diameter and is located in the cell body along a line defined by the neurite. During cell differentiation, the large initiation, the large initiation center seems to be formed by the aggregation of many smaller sites. This process procedes neurite extension by about 24 hr. The growth of microtubules from this center appears to be highly oriented, since most microtubules initially grow into the neurite processes rather than into the cell interior. Thus major changes in the structure and location of microtubule initiation sites occur during the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. Similar changes are likely to be involved in alterations in the morphology of other cell types.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of mecillinam and 6-aminopenicillanic acid on Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Single strains of Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were grown on filter membranes placed on agar containing concentration series of mecillinam (FL 1060), 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), or ampicillin. P. mirabilis and E. coli were also exposed to combinations of mecillinam or 6-APA with ampicillin. Colony-forming units were counted, and cells were examined by interference phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopy. Mecillinam and 6-APA were very effective in reducing the viability of the two gram-negative species, but they were less effective against S. aureus. Combinations of mecillinam and 6-APA with ampicillin acted synergistically against the gram-negative bacilli. When the antibiotics were presented consecutively, their effects on viability were usually no greater than the effects of the individual antibiotics acting alone. When P. mirabilis and E. coli were exposed to mecillinam alone or in combination with ampicillin, the cells became rounded. 6-APA alone or in combination with ampicillin produced elongated polymorphic cells in these species. The most unusual morphological effects were ultrastructural. Mecillinam and, to a lesser extent, 6-APA produced inward growth of numerous pairs of trilamellar membranous structures within the cells. It is possible that these membranes represent the growth initiation of aberrant cross walls. Both mecillinam and 6-APA produced multiple, thick cross walls in S. aureus.

Ampicillin↗

Cytopathogenicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in porcine tracheal ring and lung explant organ cultures alone and in combination with monolayer cultures of fetal lung fibroblasts.

Porcine tracheal rings and lung explants alone and in combination with monolayer cultures of porcine lung fibroblasts (PLF) were separately inoculated with virulent strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and incubated at various times. The preparations were observed by bright-field, phase-contrast, and scanning electron microscopy. In PLF cultures, the strains at initial concentrations of 10(1.3) colony-forming units/ml increased within 3 days to 10(6) colony-forming units/ml, showed progressive clustering on the cells, and caused some sloughing. Introduction of a tracheal ring or lung explant into these mycoplasma-infected PLF cultures caused the explant to lose its epithelial ciliary motility. Eventually parts or whole cells of the respective ciliated epithelium were lost. Without infected PLF monolayers, the explants inoculated with M. hyopneumoniae were less susceptible to infection. When uninfected explants were incubated for 18 days or kept in stock for 2 months, they did not show the above changes. With 5 h postinoculation, M. hyopneumoniae cultures became intimately associated with the PLF culture, but when epithelial cell sloughing occurred, the mycoplasmal cells became dependent on the introduction of a fresh PLF monolayer or a tracheal or lung explant for survival.

Culture Techniques↗

Marginal bands in camel erythrocytes.

The elliptical, anucleate erythrocytes of camels have been examined for the presence of marginal bands and their constituent microtubules. Lysis of erythrocytes under microtubule-stabilizing conditions readily revealed marginal bands in at least 3 % of the cells, as observed by phase-contrast and darkfield light microscopy. Microtubules plus a marginal band-encompassing network of material are visible in lysed cell whole mounts with transmission electron microscopy. Marginal band microtubules are also evident in electron micrographs of thin-sectioned camel erythrocytes identifiable as reticuloyctes on the basis of submaximal electron density (reduced haemoglobin iron content) and presence of polysomes. The results suggest that marginal bands may be involved in morphogenesis of camel erythrocytes but are not required for maintenance of their ellipticity after cells are fully differentiated.

Animals↗

Microcinematographic demonstration of synchronous and asynchronous myoepithelial contractions in mouse submandibular gland rudiments in organotypic culture.

Time-lapse phase-contrast cinematography revealed contractile activity within mouse submandibular salivary gland rudiments in organotypic culture. Three types of contraction were distinguishable. In type I (voiding contractions), all portions of the gland contracted synchronously, and the active state ranged from 30 min to 2 hr. In type II (priming contractions), all portions of the gland contracted synchronously, but the active state was shorter, ranging from 4 to 10 min. In type III (churning contractions), isolated foci in lobules or secretory units throughout the gland contracted asynchronously and had very short active states of about 1 min. By electron microscopy, myoepithelial cells could first be demonstrated in submandibular glands developing either in vitro or in vivo, at 21 days postconception. Contractions in the cultured rudiments began as early as 18 days postconception. Since neither smooth nor striated muscle could be identified in these glands by electron microscopy, the contractions are believed to result from myoepithelial activity that apparently may begin before ultrastructural evidence of myoepithelial differentiation is clearly present. Although, for over a century, myoepithelium has been presumed to have a contractile function and indirect evidence has lent ample support to this presumption, the present study represents the first direct cinematographic demonstration and characterization of myoepithelial contractions, under conditions in vitro.

Animals↗

Morphology of dissociated hippocampal cultures from fetal mice.

Dissociated hippocampal cultures from fetal mice (13--18 days gestational age) can be maintained for up to two months in culture. Cells grow as either isolated neurons or in small neuronal aggregates. Neurons remain small with a soma diameter of 15--20 micrometer even in mature cultures and develop extensively branched processes during the first two weeks in culture. After this time, processes become more difficult to visualize with phase-contrast optics because of a tendency to grow within the underlying non-neuronal cells. However, the presence of processes has been proved by silver-staining which demonstrates an organizational complexity ranging from a loosely reticulated neuropil to fascicles containing many fibers. More detailed study of individual neuronal morphology was carried out in cells filled with the fluorescent dye, Lucifer Yellow CH, in conjunction with the intracellular recording of synaptic and action potentials from dye-containing micropipettes. Dye-filled cells show a well-developed branching morphology. Process specializations include spines, beading, and basket-like endings. Processes tend to emanate from one side of the soma, either originating at the cell body or from a single trunk. Commonly there are 2--4 orders of branching, but up to 6 orders can occur (counted centrifugally from the soma). Electron microscopy revealed synapses distributed predominantly on dendrites with a smaller number on somata. Dendritic spines are present and are contacted principally by asymmetric synaptic junctions. Symmetric synapses are relatively more common on somata and proximal dendrites.

Action Potentials↗