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Fibrinolytic activity of menstrual blood in normal and menorrhagic women and in women wearing the Lippes Loop and the Cu-T (200).

Assessment was made of the fibrinolytic activity in menstrual and peripheral blood of 30 normally menstruating and 30 menorrhagic patients and of 30 women wearing Lippes Loops and 15 wearing CU-T (200)s. Assessment was performed by measuring the area of lysis on heated and unheated fibrin plates. Also, histochemical identification of fibrin fibrils in the menstrual endometrium was performed by Mallory's phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin method. Results in the normally menstruating group were compared to those of the menorrhagic women, and together these were compared with results in the groups of women wearing intrauterine devices. The fibrinolytic activity in menstrual blood was significantly increased in menorrhagic patients compared to that in normally menstruating patients, but no significant difference was detected in the plasma of either group. The histochemical study of the normally menstruating endometrium revealed dense intravascular and extravascular deposits of fibrin. Less dense intravascular fibrin deposits, but no extravascular ones, were present in the menorrhagic patients. The increase in the fibrinolytic activity of menstrual blood and the decrease in the density of fibrin deposits in the menstrual endometrium of the menorrhagic women were thus associated and were probably involved in the excessive menstrual loss. The fibrinolytic activity of menstrual blood in women wearing Lippes Loops was higher than that in women with Cu-T (200)s and was associated with decreased density of fibrin fibrils in the menstruating endometrium. This may explain the increased blood loss associated with the use of the Lippes Loop.

Adolescent↗

Scanning electron microscopy of negatively stained catalase on a silicon wafer.

A high-resolution scanning electron microscope capable of 7 A spatial resolution at 30-kV accelerating voltage was used to observe negatively stained protein molecules. Thin platelet crystals, densely packed monolayers, and low-density deposits of beef liver catalase were prepared on the surface of silicon wafers and negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid. The tetrameric structure of the catalase molecule was observed for the first time by scanning electron microscopy on the surface of the smooth silicon wafer.

Catalase↗

Quantitative aspects of synapses on Golgi-impregnated neurons.

With the classical Golgi techniques, numerous types of neurons can be distinguished in the cerebral cortex, each with a specific dendritic geometry and pattern of axonal ramifications. In the present review we describe two techniques which allow quantification of synapses on identified neurons: (1) Golgi-rapid impregnation-gold toning-electron microscopy, and (2) Golgi-Kopsch impregnation-gold toning-electron microscopy in combination with staining of the tissue with ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA). Both techniques were applied on neurons in the visual cortex of young and adult rabbits. By means of rotating and tilting specimens in the electron microscope, the nondistinctive ultrastructure of obliquely sectioned synapses can be circumvented, leading to precise estimates of asymmetrical vs. symmetrical synapses without complete reconstruction of the neuron.

Animals↗

High resolution and image processing of otoconia matrix.

This study was designed to investigate patterns of fibrils organization in histochemically stained otoconia. Transmission electron microscope and video imaging were used. These data indicate that otoconia of the chick (Gallus domesticus) inner ear may have central cores in vivo. The data also show that the ultrastructural organization of fibrils fixed with aldehydes and histochemical stains follows trajectories that conform to the hexagonal shape of otoconia. These changes in direction may contribute to the formation of a central core. The existence of central cores is important for the in vivo buoyancy of otoconia. Packing of fibrils is tighter after phosphotungstic acid (PTA) stained otoconia than with other histochemical stains, which usually produce looser packing of fibrils and seemingly larger central core. TEM of tilted and untilted material showed that turning of fibrils occurs at the points where the face angles of otoconia form and where central cores exist. Video image processing of the images allowed reconstructing a template which, if assumed to repeat and change trajectories, would fit the pattern of fibrils seen in fixed otoconia. Since it is highly unlikely that aldehyde primary fixation or PTA stain caused such drastic change in the direction of fibrils, the template derived from these results may closely approximate patterns of otoconia fibrils packing in vivo. However, if the above is correct, the perfect crystallographic diffraction pattern of unfixed otoconia do not correspond to patterns of fixed fibrils.

Animals↗

Electron microscopic image analysis of cardiac gap junction membrane crystals.

Cardiac gap junctions play an important functional role in the myocardium by electrically coupling adjacent cells, thereby providing a low resistance pathway for cell-to-cell propagation of the action potential. Two-dimensional crystallization of biochemically isolated rat ventricular gap junctions has been accomplished by an in situ method in which membrane suspensions are sequentially dialyzed against low concentrations of deoxycholate and dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside. Lipids are partially extracted without solubilizing the protein, and the increased protein concentration facilitates two-dimensional crystallization in the native membrane environment. The two-dimensional crystals have a nominal resolution of 16 A and display plane group symmetry p6 with a = b = 85 A and gamma = 120 degrees. Projection density maps show that the connexons in cardiac gap junctions are formed by a hexameric cluster of alpha 1 connexin subunits. Protease cleavage of alpha 1 connexin from 43 to 30 kDa releases approximately 13kDa from the carboxy-tail, and the projection density maps are not significantly altered. Uranyl acetate stain penetrates the ion channel, whereas phosphotungstic acid is preferentially deposited over the lipid regions. This differential staining can be used to selectively probe the central channel of the connexon and the interface between the connexon and the lipid. The hexameric design of alpha 1 connexons appears to be a recurring quaternary motif for the multigene family of gap junction proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Paired helical filaments (PHFs) are a family of single filament structures with a common helical turn period: negatively stained PHF imaged by TEM and measured before and after sonication, deglycosylation, and dephosphorylation.

Isolated paired helical filaments (PHFs) were visualized on glutaraldehyde vapor-treated thin approximately 10-nm thick indirect carbon films using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the negative stain, phosphotungstate acid (PTA) at near neutral pH of 6.8. PHF preparations were prepared with and without 1 minute of sonication. These same PHF were also deglycosylated with endoglycosidase F/N-glycosidase F for 1 hour or the PHF were dephosphorylated with PP-2A for 1 hour. The negatively stained PHF filaments were quantitatively studied by measuring their wide regions (W) their thin regions (T) and their helical turn period (L) and these separate parameters were averaged for each filament. In the unsonicated PHF preparation there were PHF, cylindrical filaments with periodic thin regions (CF-PT), cylindrical filaments (CF), as well as 2.0-nm tau polymer-like filaments. The CF-PT were characterized by W, T, and L measurements and the CF were characterized by diameter measurements. The paired helical filament model proposed by Kidd (1963, Nature 197:192-193) of two approximately 10 nm filaments twisting around each other every approximately 80 nm with a thin region of 10 nm and a wide region of 25 nm does not correspond to the PHF structures found. None of the PHF we observed were composed of a pair of filaments and all of the PHF appear to be a single filament. The wide regions ranged from 12.5-27 nm and the thin regions ranged from 4.5-12.3 nm. The helical turn periods ranged from 76-85 nm and were generally about 80 nm. Only the helical turn period of approximately 80 nm was a common property of the whole family of PHF structures. The CF-PT appear to be a PHF precursor filament. Deglycosylation of the PHF and CF-PT reduced their sizes by 0.5-0.6 nm and 0.7-1.0 nm, respectively, and the right-hand helicity of the PHF was lost after deglycosylation. Dephosphorylation with PP-2A reduced the PHF wide regions by 6.0 nm and the thin regions by 2.6 nm.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Successive episodes of synapses production in the developing rat nucleus tractus solitarii.

In the rat nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), synaptogenesis is thought to occur both pre- and postnatally. The present study was performed to precisely define the timetable of synapse formation in the NTS after birth. Changes in synapse morphology and densities were analyzed between postnatal day 3 (P3) and P28 using electron microscopy and ethanol phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) staining. The proportion of morphologically immature synapses was high at P3 (38%) and P14 (30%) and low (8-14%) at the other ages investigated (P7, P21, and P28). Synaptic density significantly increased between P7 and P14 (60%) and between P21 and P28 (54%), but did not significantly change between P3 and P7 and between P14 and P21. Mean synaptic diameter also increased over the first postnatal month. Significant increases in synaptic size occurred between P3 and P7 (28%) and between P14 and P21 (15%). The present data indicate that, in the NTS, synaptogenesis occurs over a protracted period of time and involves distinct successive episodes of synapse production.

Animals↗

A quantitative study of visual cortex synapses during the postnatal development of dark-reared rats.

The method of Aghajanian and Bloom (1967) was applied to the visual cortex of normal and neonatally visually deprived rats. The rats were kept with their mothers in total darkness since birth, in a ventilated and temperature-controlled animal quarter. Controls were rats from the same stock, maintained in a regular 12-h-light/12-h-dark rhythm. The animals were killed at 15, 23, 40, and 65 days of age, and the visual cortices fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde and processed for electron micrography with ethanol-phosphotungstic acid. A total of 6249 synaptic profiles were counted and their numerical density (DS) determined in both conditions. Features of the presynaptic grid were used for classifying the synaptic profiles in: type A [with one presynaptic dense projection (PsDP)]; type B (with two or three PsDPS); and type C (with four or more PsDPS). In the visually deprived rats the DS increases with a rate similar to controls, but the values for each age are slightly lower (P less than 0.01). Type B synapses predominate in the visually deprived group while types A and C are scarcer. The differences found between types were maximal at 65 days of age and the results were highly significant (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that major effects of dark-rearing are manifested when the individual features of the presynaptic grid are considered. It seems that a selected population of synapses is affected by the alteration of the normal epigenetic influence of early visual experience.

Animals↗

Experimental adriamycin nephropathy. Fine structure, morphometry, glomerular polyanion, and cell membrane antigens.

Two doses of adriamycin (2 mg/kg i.v.) were administered to young adult rats with a 22-day interval and the kidneys were examined 51, 79, and 107 days after the first injection. Light microscopy showed early prominent intraglomerular microcystic spaces and progressive, though not severe, segmental glomerulosclerosis with focal interstitial scarring and round-cell infiltration. The main features of the ultrastructure were widespread fusion of foot processes, focal cytoplasmic rarefaction of podocytes, and non-specific sclerosis of the mesangium without signs of severe degenerative changes or mesangiolysis. The segmental microcystic structures corresponded to agglomerated intrapodocytic vacuoles. The scatter of glomerular polyanion sites visualized by polyethylenimine-phosphotungstic acid resembled that of control animals but the quantitative assessment revealed a significant reduction. CD4-positive cells were the predominant element of the interstitial infiltrates. Most of the infiltrating cells expressed Ia antigens, whereas Ia-positive intraglomerular resident mononuclear cells were depleted. The adriamycin lesion resembles the post-five-sixths nephrectomy ablation nephropathy in the subpopulations of the interstitial infiltrate but differs from it in the reduction of intraglomerular resident macrophages, the absence of destructive mesangial damage, and reduced segmental glomerulosclerosis. The main feature is the prolonged damage of podocytes, especially of their cytoskeletal system.

Animals↗

Total regional and global number of synapses in the human brain neocortex.

An estimator of the total number of synapses in neocortex of human autopsy brains based on unbiased stereological principles is described. Each randomly chosen cerebral hemisphere was stratified into the four major neocortical regions. Uniform sampling with a varying sampling fraction in each region of neocortex was performed. The total volume of each neocortical region was estimated using point counting according to Cavalieri's principle. The ethanolic phosphotungstic acid staining technique was modified for synapses in human autopsy brains. The numerical density of synapses in each neocortical region studied was estimated using the disector at the electron microscopical level. The total number of neocortical synapses in each region was estimated as the product of the total volume of neocortex and the numerical density of synapses. The influence of the postmortem fixation delay on the number of synapses was investigated in five large mammals (one dog, one cow, and three pigs), the brains of which were kept under conditions similar to those under which human corpses are normally kept. The apparent decrease of 3.9% in the numerical density of synapses in the large mammals following a 2-day fixation delay was not significant. The average total number of synapses in the neocortex of five young male brains was 164 x 10(12) (CV = 0.17). An analysis of the precision of the estimate of the total number of synapses in neocortex indicates that blocks represent both the major source of variation and the largest workload. Using eight blocks per brain the imprecision of the estimate is, however, only 66% of the total variance.

Adult↗

Photochromic Inorganic/Organic Self-Assembled Superlattice Films.

Phosphotungstic acid (PW(12)) and 1,10-diaminodecane (1,10-DAD) molecules have been alternatively assembled on 3-aminopropyltriethyoxysilane modified quartz or silicon substrate to form multicomposite mutilayer thin films by the molecular deposition technique. Thus-obtained films were characterized by UV-visible, XRD, X-ray reflection (XRR), and XPS spectra. Results show that the layer-by-layer self-assembly of PW(12) and 1,10-DAD leads to a well-ordered superlattice-layered structure with a d-spacing of 3.19 nm, which exhibits extremely exciting photochromic properties. Based on the experimental data, a presumable interlayer structural model has also been suggested. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

Morphometrical evaluation of triflusal in brain infarction.

MCA occlusion in animals is a common model for experimental stroke. In previous studies we have shown that one of the factors, which influence evolution of an infarct is microthrombosis in the area of infarction and in the surrounding brain tissue. The present study was undertaken for assessment of the number of microthrombi and of the size of brain infarcting in rats treated with the antiaggregatory substance Triflusal. 7 groups of Sprague-Dawley rats, each group consisting of 6 animals, underwent transsphenoidal MCA occlusion. The animals received Triflusal in various amounts from day 2 till day 6. At day 7 animals were decapitated and the brains were fixed in formaldehyde. The brain was dissected at the level of the optic chiasm and embedded in paraffin. Fresh microthrombi were detected py PTAH (Phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin) staining. In each animal the hemisphere with the ischemic lesion as well as the contralateral hemisphere were examined. The area of both hemispheres was calculated by subtraction of the ventricle area from the total brain area of a section. Infarct was defined as the region of necrosis which was sharply demarcated from normal brain. The infarcted area was planimetrically measured to obtain a ratio of infarcted to normal brain. A correlation between the effect of Triflusal, number of microthrombi and size of the infarcted area could be demonstrated. The pathogenetic role of the microthrombi in the evolution of cerebral infarction as well as the effect of Triflusal in different dosages on the number of microthrombi could be clearly assessed by quantitative morphometry.

Animals↗

A unique connective tissue structure in the aortic media of the chicken.

The interstitium between smooth muscle cells in the media of the abdominal aorta of the chicken contains basement membranes, glycosaminoglycan, stout elastic fibers, extensive bundles of collagenous fibers, and a unique striated structure. In cross section, this striated, hexagonal structure resembles a honeycomb, each hexagon consisting of 6 isosceles triangles. Microtubule-like structures are present at each corner and center of a hexagon, and 3 delicate filaments are located equidistantly between putative microtubules. The periodicity evident in longitudinal section is the result of a constant repetition of microtubule-like elements. From staining with phosphotungstic acid it appears that the striated connective tissue structures are proteinacous and might serve as a reinforcing structure where smooth muscle cells are separated by dilated extracellular spaces.

Animals↗

The alveolar-lining layer in the lung of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. An electron-microscopic study using heavy metal complexes.

Lungs of neotenic larvae of Ambystoma mexicanum were prepared for maintaining the air-tissue boundary during aldehyde fixation. Four methods of postfixation were applied: 1) osmium tetroxide followed by en-bloc staining with uranyl acetate and phosphotungstic acid, 2) ruthenium redosmium tetroxide, 3) osmium tetroxide-ferrocyanide, and 4) tannic acid-osmium tetroxide. Three types of cells line the inner surface of the axolotl lung: 1) pneumocytes, covering the capillaries with flat cellular extensions and containing two types of granules: the osmiophilic lamellar bodies, precursors of extracellular membranous material, and apical granules of unknown significance; 2) ciliated cells, also containing osmiophilic lamellar bodies; and 3) goblet cells filled with secretory granules as well as osmiophilic bodies. The extracellular material forms membranous whorls as well as tubular myelin figures, consisting of membranous "backbones" combined with an intensely stained substance. This material strikingly resembles the surfactant of amphibian lungs.

Ambystoma↗

Ultrastructural localisation of proteoglycans in the odontoblast-predentin region of rat incisor.

The localization of proteoglycans in the predentin of the rat incisor was investigated by ultrastructural histochemistry. Ruthenium red stained the cell coat of the odontoblasts as well as intracellular vesicles. There was also a staining of the extracellular matrix, but not of collagen fibers in the predentin. Treatment with the enzyme hyaluronidase prior to staining with ruthenium red abolished the staining of the vesicles and the extracellular matrix but not that of the cell coat. Bismuth nitrate and phosphotungstic acid gave similar staining of odontoblast vesicles and extracellular matrix. It is likely that the stained structures contain proteoglycans. The importance of these proteoglycans and their ultrastructural localization are discussed in relation to intracellular transport and the calcification process.

Animals↗

Some observations on the ultrastructure of developing rat cerebral capillaries.

Developing blood vessels in rat cerebral cortex were studied at a number of stages between 3 and 28 days postnatal, in an attempt to obtain data on the mechanisms by which the lumen is established within cords of mesodermal cells. A combination of techniques was utilized in an attempt to elucidate these mechanisms. These were: (a) aldehyde fixation and block staining with phosphotungstic acid; (b) aldehyde perfusion followed by perfusion of a lead solution and post-fixation in osmium tetroxide; (c) conventional preparation of tissue with aldehyde and osmium fixation. Support for interendothelial lumen formation was readily forthcoming, including vessels with junctions between two or more endothelial cells cut transversely. There was some support for intraendothelial lumen formation, in the form of "seamless" endothelial cells. Other features noted included the presence of free ribosomes and vacuoles in the endothelial cells, endothelial flaps, sprouts and tendrils, intraluminal debris, endothelial degeneration and a junction with a nonendothelial cell. Large numbers of endothelial vacuoles were noted, many of them occurring at the abluminal edge of the cells. These vacuoles may be involved in the formation of intraendothelial lumina and also in the enlargement of both types of lumina. This study provides evidence that besides the well-established interendothelial lumen formation, intraendothelial mechanisms may also be operative in rat cerebral cortex. The techniques employed in this study offer the potential for clarifying these and related issues.

Animals↗

The morphology of synaptic profiles in explants of foetal and neonatal mouse cerebral cortex maintained in a magnesium-enriched environment.

The present study examines the ultrastructure of synaptic profiles developed in explant cultures of immature mouse cerebral cortex, maintained for prolonged periods in a magnesium-rich environment. The ethanolic phosphotungstic acid method was employed in addition to conventional preparation procedures so that paramembranous densities could be clearly observed. Although presynaptic terminals were frequently packed to capacity with vesicles in cultures maintained in magnesium-rich media, there was always a proportion which contained loosely collected vesicles. Few other changes in synaptic morphology were apparent and the paramembranous densities were unaffected. The reasons for the effectiveness of the transmission block, the absence of any change in the morphology of paramembranous densities, and the excessive crowding of presynaptic vesicles are considered and discussed.

Animals↗

Dense material associated with apparent presynaptic elements in cell cultures of the CNS.

In cell cultures of the rat cerebellum, electron-dense material has been found occasionally between adjacent cells. More often than not, presynaptic elements on one side of the dense material faced either neuronal or nonneuronal cells on the other side. The 20 nm thick material was stained either with the osmium-uranyl-lead (OsUL) procedure or with the ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) procedure. To determine the source of the dense material, various compounds were added to cultures at 7 days in vitro. Only a crude nuclear fraction was able to duplicate the appearance of the dense material associated with the apparent presynaptic elements. It was concluded that apparent presynaptic elements were associated with the polybasic dense material and that this type of association may duplicate an interaction in the normal development of synaptic contacts.

Animals↗