ALBERT

Notes: Summary The theca interna of non-atretic ovarian follicles from 2.0 mm in diameter up to the stage shortly following ovulation was studied by light and electron microscopy. In follicles 〈3.0mm in diameter, the theca interna consisted of about 8–12 layers of flattened cells, together with many capillaries and small bundles of collagen. Two main forms of cellular differentiation were seen. These were towards either fibroblast-like cells or presumed steroidogenic cells whose cytoplasm contained large amounts of predominantly smooth tubular endoplasmic reticulum, to which some ribosomes were attached. The majority of cells were of relatively undifferentiated or intermediate structure. In larger follicles up to the early stages of oestrus the theca interna cells became larger and less flattened, and cells rich in tubular endoplasmic reticulum became proportionately more numerous. By 18 h after the onset of oestrus the theca interna was oedematous, and many cells possessed pseudopodia. Many cells also contained numerous lipid droplets, but there were no signs of thecal cell degeneration or death. Shortly after ovulation the basal lamina of the membrana granulosa was incomplete, and it became more difficult to distinguish between theca and granulosa layers. Structural heterogeneity, with two major cell types and cells of intermediate structure, was present at all stages. It was concluded that: (1) the theca interna of 2.0–2.9 mm follicles contained many cells whose structure was compatible with a steroidogenic capacity; (2) changes in the differentiated thecal cells up to the early stages of oestrus were quantitative rather than qualitative, and suggestive of an increased steroidogenic capacity; (3) the accumulation of lipid in many cells of the theca interna by 18 h after the onset of oestrus probably reflected a reduction in steroidogenic activity; and (4) there was no evidence of any structural specialization to facilitate the transport of steroids from the theca interna to the membrana granulosa.

Notes: Early passage mouse embryo fibroblasts, mouse 3T3 cell lines, and early passage diploid human fibroblasts grew to higher cell densities in tissue culture medium supplemented with serum than in medium supplemented with defibrinogenated platelet-poor plasma (PPP). Unlike the mouse cells, the human fibroblasts displayed this differential growth response only in the presence of hypophysiologic concentrations of calcium. The addition of heat-treated extracts of human platelets to PPP-supplemented medium stimulated the replication of both the normal mouse cells and early passage human embryo fibroblasts.Human or mouse fibroblasts transformed by either retroviruses or by SV40, including SV40 infected “serum revertants” and “flat transformants,” grew to equal cell densities in medium supplemented with either serum or PPP. Infection of Balb/c-3T3 cells with SV40 rapidly induced them to grow in PPP-supplemented medium demonstrating that the ability of SV40-transformed cell lines to proliferate in PPP-supplemented medium does not arise from the cell culture selection procedures usually employed to obtain stable virus-transformed cell lines. 3T3 cells infected but not transformed by retroviruses do not replicate in PPP-supplemented medium demonstrating that reduction of the growth requirement for the platelet growth factor(s) by retroviruses is a transformation-specific response. Cell cultures that did not proliferate well in PPP-supplemented medium did not form tumors when inoculated into athymic nude mice. Many, although not all, of the lines which grew well in PPP medium were tumorigenic in nude mice. Together, these findings indicate that: (1) normal fibroblast-like cells display a growth requirement for factor(s) present in serum but not found in PPP; (2) this serum specific growth factor is derived from platelets; (3) a primary response to viral transforming genes is a reduction in the growth requirement for these platelet-derived factors; and (4) cells that have a reduced requirement for the platelet-derived growth factor are often tumorigenic.

Notes: The reactions of hydroxyl radicals with eight substituted aromatic hydrocarbons and four olefins were studied utilizing the flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence technique. The rate constants were measured at 298°K using either Ar or He as the diluent gas. The values of the rate constants (k × 1012) in the units of cm3/molec. sec are (a) OH + o-xylene → products: (12.9±3.8), 20 torr He; (13.0±0.3), 20 torr Ar; (12.4±0.1), 200 torr He;(b) OH + m-xylene → products: (15.6±1.4), 3 torr Ar; (19.4±0.8), 20 torr Ar; (21.4±0.2), 20 torr He; (20.3±1.9), 200 torr Ar; (20.6±1.3), 200 Torr He;(c) OH + p-xylene → products: (8.8±1.2), 3 torr Ar; (10.1±1.0), 20 torr He; (10.5±0.6), 200 torr He;(d) OH + ethyl benzene → products: (7.50±0.38), 3 torr He; (7.06±0.26), 20 torr He; (7.95±0.28), 200 torr He;(e) OH + n-propylbenzene → products: (6.40±0.36), 20 torr He; (5.86±0.16), 200 torr He;(f) OH + isopropylbenzene → products: (7.79±0.40), 200 torr He;(g) OH + hexafluorobenzene → products: (0.221±0.020), 20 torr He; (0.219±0.016) 200 torr He;(h) OH + n-propyl pentafluorobenzene → products: (2.52±0.54), 3 torr He; (3.01±0.76), 20 torr He; (3.06±0.24), 200 torr He;(i) OH + propylene → products: (25.6±1.2), 20 torr He; (26.3±1.2), 200 torr He;(j) OH + 1-butene → products: (29.6±1.9), 3 torr He; (29.4±1.4), 20 torr He;(k) OH + cis-2-butene → products: (43.2±4.1), 3 torr He; (42.6±2.5), 20 torr He;(l) OH + tetramethylethylene → products: (56.9±1.3), 20 torr He.

Notes: Die Dehydratisierung von NaaPHO3 · 5 H2O zum wasserfreien Salz wurde mit Thermogravimetrie und Differentialthermoanalyse untersucht. Die Entwässerung verläuft über die Stufe eines intermediären niederen Hydrates, Na2PHO3 · 0,5 H2O. Einkristalle des Hemihydrates konnten aus Lösung gezüchtet werden; es kristallisiert rhomboedrisch, Raumgruppe R32, R3m oder R3m, mit a = 18,918(5) ß und α = 33,00(2)°. - Die Kristallstruktur von Na2PHO3 · 5 H2O wurde neu bestimmt. Das Pentahydrat kristallisiert orthorhombisch, Raumgruppe Pnm21 mit a = 7,109(1), b = 6,447(1), c = 9,230(2) Å. Die Struktur ist aus Schichten von kanten- und eckenverknüpften Na-Koordinationspolyedern aufgebaut. Die Schichten werden durch Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen der Wassermoleküle zu einem dreidimensionalen Strukturverband verknüpft.

Notes: The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of trans-1,2-dicyanocyclobutane, which yields only vinyl cyanide, have been studied in the temperature range of 570°-660°K using a stirred-flow reactor. The reaction was found to be first order and homogeneous with rate constants represented by the Arrhenius equation \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$$ {\rm log}k{\rm (sec}^{- 1} {\rm) =}{{{\rm (16}{\rm .0} \pm {\rm 0}{\rm .3)} - {\rm (52}{\rm .9} \pm {\rm 0}{\rm .8)}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\rm (16}{\rm .0} \pm {\rm 0}{\rm .3)} - {\rm (52}{\rm .9} \pm {\rm 0}{\rm .8)}} \theta}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \theta} $$\end{document} where θ = 2.303 RT kcal/mol. The Arrhenius parameters are considerably higher than previously reported. On the assumption of a biradical mechanism the results are consistent with a cyano stabilization energy of ∼5 kcal/mol, in good agreement with the results of recent studies of related systems.

Notes: Summary Electron microscopical observations of the size and shape of bone mineral crystallites have not been in complete agreement with X-ray diffraction findings. The two prevalent viewpoints consider bone mineral crystals to be either rod, or plate like in habit. There appears to be agreement that the smallest dimension of the crystals is about 5 nm, but there is discrepancy in the reported c-axial lengths. The method of dark field imaging is used to obtain a quantitative measurement of the c-axial length distribution in rabbit, ox and human bone: mean c-axial lengths 32.6 nm, 36.2 nm and 32.4 nm, respectively, show no significant difference at the 5% level to the mean c-axial length measured by X-ray line broadening. Both bright and dark field images strongly suggest that bone mineral has a plate like form. Reasons for past discrepancies are discussed.

Notes: Summary Two kinds of occluding junctions are found between ileal epithelial cells of suckling rats: apical zonulae occludentes (ZO) and fasciae occludentes (FO) which are associated with the lateral plasma membranes of many epithelial cells. In unfixed preparations, glycerol treatment induces the further proliferation of extensive fasciae occludentes. Both kinds of junction have identical structural elements when visualized in freeze fracture replicas, although the arrangement of these elements differs. Zonulae occludentes consist of networks of branching and anastomosing linear ridges or rows of ∼10 nm particles with 20–30 nm spaces between the rows which form narrow belt-like structures around the apical region of adjacent cells. Fasciae occludentes, on the other hand, consist of similar linear ridges or rows of particles but the junction strands are often discontinuous, open ended and only occasionally intersect with each other. Several different fracture planes through the plasma membrane in the region of the occluding junctions have been observed and these provide further evidence that two components, one from each membrane, fused at the level of the extracellular space, form the junction sealing element. Furthermore, we present evidence which indicates a staggered rather than an in-register arrangement of these two components.

Notes: The fine structure of the mid-gut musculature of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria is described and compared with that of the visceral muscles of other species. The gross morphology and fine structure of the nervous system which supplies the mid-gut muscle fibres is described.

Notes: The dorsal ventricular ridge (DVR) is a subcortical, telencephalic structure in reptiles and birds that protrudes into the lateral ventricle. The structure of DVR has been studied in the red-eared turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans) in Nissl and Golgi preparations. The DVR in Pseudemys is divided into the anterior dorsal ventricular ridge (ADVR) and the basal dorsal ventricular ridge (BDVR) by the dorsal branch of the middle ventricular sulcus. The structure of ADVR has been examined in detail.The ADVR is divided into four regions with distinct boundaries termed dorsal area, medial area, ventral area and central area. Dorsal area, medial area and ventral area border on the lateral ventricle; central area lies deep to the other areas. Three classes of neurons are found in Golgi preparations of ADVR. Juxtaependymal cells have somata near the perikarya of ependymal cells; their dendrites are found primarily in a periventricular fiber zone. Aspiny neurons were observed only in the dorsal half of ADVR and appear to be restricted to deep regions of the ridge. These multipolar neurons are rarely encountered in Golgi preparations, and the observed distribution may not represent their actual distribution in ADVR. The majority of the cells observed in ADVR are spiny neurons with dendritic fields that range from stellate to double-pyramidal. Cells in this class may be subdivided on the basis of axonal morphology into at least two groups, but further studies are needed to determine the range of axonal morphology exhibited by these neurons.An analysis of the distribution of these cell types in Golgi material shows that dorsal area, medial area and ventral area are organized in four zones concentric with the ventricular surface. Central area apparently lacks a concentric pattern of organization. Zone 1 is a periventricular fiber band that contains juxtaependymal neurons and ascending dendrites of zone 2 spiny neurons, and it may serve as a structural substrate for segregated input onto these cell populations. Zone 2 contains clusters of spiny neurons with apposed somata, which vary in size and distribution between areas. Dendrites of zone 4 neurons are also found in the deep half of zone 2. Zone 3 is a cell-poor region which lies at the center of a region of overlapping dendritic fields of zone 2 and zone 4 neurons. Zone 4 contains predominantly spiny neurons (aspiny neurons are found only in the dorsal half of ADVR) which are either isolated or in small clusters with apposed somata. Dendrites of zone 2 cells extend superficially into zone 4, so that the deep portions of zone 4 may be a substrate for segregated input to zone 4 neurons. These zones are differentially elaborated in each area. Central area, by contrast, consists of scattered spiny and aspiny neurons among fibers connecting ADVR and the lateral forebrain bundle.A comparison of these findings with the ADVR of snakes (Ulinski, '78a,b) shows both similarities and differences in DVR organization in the two taxa. Although snakes lack areal divisions, ADVR is organized in four concentric zones (zones A-D). Zones A and B resemble zones 1 and 2 in turtles, consisting of a superficial fiber zone and a subjacent cell cluster zone. The clusters are smaller in snakes than in turtles. However, snakes lack a cell-poor band deep to zone B, and dendrites of cells in zone C enter zone A. Thus, there are differences in both areal and zonal dimensions of ADVR organization in turtles and snakes.

Notes: The American cockroach has a total of 368 muscles inserting on the post-coxal segments of its legs. By using a narrow morphological definition for delimiting individual muscles, it is shown (i) that the protrochanteral musculatures (23 muscles/leg) differ from the essentially identical meso- and metatrochanteral musculatures (24 and 26 muscles/leg) in number and disposition of extensors and in having a completely different flexor composition, and (ii) that the musculatures of the more distal segments of the legs are completely serially homologous, there being 2 muscles for moving each femur, 23 for each tibia, 7 for each first tarsomere, and 5 for each of the paired pretarsal claws. In all six legs, the trochanteral and tibial musculatures each contain single slender muscles that may be acting proprioceptively to measure the angular displacements between, respectively, the coxas and trochanters, and the femurs and tibias. Neurological and phylogenetic considerations are used to demonstrate why a narrow morphological definition should be employed, and why the widely used functional definition of Snodgrass ('35) is not only fallacious on evolutionary grounds, but also leads to making erroneous conclusions regarding the manner in which insect musculature is controlled by the insect central nervous system. Finally, it is hypothesized that the physiological limitations imposed by having an open circulatory system and the problems inherent in the neural control of large muscles may have been major evolutionary factors in forcing insects to use many slender muscles to control their body movements.