ALBERT

Notes: Spermiogenesis in the South American leptodactylid frog Odontophrynus cultripes was analyzed ultrastructurally. The spermatids undergo morphological modification while still enclosed in microtubule-rich processes of Sertoli cells. Electron-dense plates resembling junctional structures appear in regions at which the spermatids lie in close contact with the surface of Sertoli cell processes. Spermatid differentiation can be divided into five distinct stages based mainly on chromatin condensation. In the late stages, the densely compacted chromatin loses reactivity to ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA). Helical arrangements of microtubules appear in the cytoplasm that surrounds the spermatid nucleus after the second stage. The acrosomal vesicle differentiates into a cone-shaped acrosome that caps the anterior region of the nucleus. The connecting piece, located in the flagellum implantation zone, has transverse striations, and is continuous with the axial rod. The tail is formed by a 9 + 2 axoneme, an undulating membrane, and an axial rod that is rich in basic proteins as demonstrated by E-PTA staining.

Notes: Morphology of the chromaffin cells of Triturus cristatus during a complete annual cycle has been investigated. General ultrastructural characteristics are similar for all chromaffin cells, including numerous small mitochondria, well-developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum with short cisternae. The primary difference among cells is the type of the chromaffin granules they posses. These are of two kinds: adrenalin (A) and noradrenalin granules (NA). Both types are simultaneously present in the chromaffin cells but with different ratios during the year. During December-January and May-August, NA granules largely prevail, while in September-November and February-April, A and NA granules are present in about equal quantities. The total quantity of catecholamine granules, however, is relatively constant throughout the year. These findings suggest that T. cristatus has a single type of chromaffin cell, the granule content of which varies according to different functional states. The catecholamines are apparently discharged by exocytosis.

Notes: The palatoquadrate and associated dermal bones have significant evolutionary transformations among teleostomes and provide numerous features that characterize teleostomian subgroups. The palatoquadrate forms the upper part of the mandibular arch and is present as a single cartilaginous element in the early ontogeny of teleostomes, except for some advanced teleosts such as siluroids where it is divided into pars autopalatina and pars pterygoquadrata. During ontogeny, the palatoquadrate may ossify as a unit, with a pars autopalatina (absent in Acanthodii), pars quadrata, and pars metapterygoidea in teleostomes (e.g., primitive acanthodians and actinopterygians, onychodonts, and rhipidistians). However, the palatoquadrate may remain cartilaginous (e.g., chondrosteans) or it may ossify as separate elements (e.g., autopalatine, metapterygoid, and quadrate) as occurs in advanced acanthodians, Polypterus and advanced actinopterygians, and advanced actinistians. From the single-unit pattern, separate autopalatine, metapterygoid, and quadrate evolve in parallel in the three teleostomian subgroups. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between actinopterygian and actinistian autopalatines and among acanthodian, actinopterygian, and actinistian metapterygoids and quadrates. A palatoquadrate fused with the neurocranium occurs in parallel in dipnoans.There are differences in the timing of ossification of the autopalatine, metapterygoid, and quadrate. The autopalatine ossifies late in ontogeny in Polypterus, Amia, and primitive teleosts (absent in lepisosteids and osteoglossmorphs), whereas both metapterygoid and quadrate ossify early in ontogeny. The early ossification of the autopalatine is characteristic of clupeocephalan teleosts. During ontogeny, tooth plates (not forming a separate dermometapterygoid) fuse with the metapterygoid in actinopterygians.Pars autopalatina, pars metapterygoidea, and pars quadrata are regions at the three corners of the single-unit palatoquadrate present in primitive teleostomes; there are no clear limits among these regions, but they may be identified by their processes, articular facets, and topographical relationships with surrounding bones and the orbit. Autopalatine, metapterygoid, and quadrate are chondral bones, perichondrally ossified. Dermal elements such as dermopalatine(s), entopterygoid, ectopterygoid, and tooth plates may cover the palatoquadrate medially. The predermopalatine that originates in front of pars autopalatina in Cladistia and the “dermopalatine” that lies medial to the ectopterygoid in Ginglymodi are specializations of these groups. A dermopalatine fused with the autopalatine is characteristic of clupeocephalan teleosts. Highly specialized tendon bone pterygoids are found in some teleosts (e.g., siluroids). The presence of both maxilla and lacrimal lateral to the pars autopalatina is synapomorphous of osteichthyans. The eye supported by the bony palatoquadrate is a teleostomian synapomorphy. Dermal elements support the eye in actinopterygians, the entopterygoid in advanced actinopterygians, but the ectopterygoid in lepisosteids.A quadratojugal is a synapomorphy of osteichthyans but exhibits a number of transformations in connection with the vertical pit-line and the preopercular canal; a quadratojugal bearing the vertical pit-line is the primitive condition for osteichthyans. Ontogenetic evidence does not support the homology of the membranous posterior process of the teleostean quadrate with the quadratojugal. The lack of a quadratojugal and the presence of the elongate posterior or posteroventral process of the quadrate is a synapomorphy of teleosts.

Notes: The labial palpus of the elephant louse Haematomyzus elephantis has six sensilla that represent three different types: trichoid, basiconic, and styloconic. Two rows of basiconic sensilla are situated on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the rostrum, and each row consists of three sensilla. Male and female antennae have 15-17 trichoid sensilla situated on the scape, pedicel, and three antennal annuli. Both sexes have two sensilla basiconica on the dorsal surface of the pedicel near the junction of the scape and pedicel. Two coeloconic (tuft) sensilla are situated on the antennae of both sexes, one sensillum on each of the last two annuli. There are three plate organs, two on the last annulus and one on the penultimate annulus of the male and female antennae. Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in the male and female antennae, in that the male has about twice as many sensilla basiconica on the apex of the last annulus as does the female. The total number of sensilla basiconica on the apex of the male antennae is at least two times the number that is known to be present in any other species of lice. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Representative functional teeth from Cryptobranchus alleghaniensis (Cryptobranchidae), Amphiuma means (Amphiumidae), Dicamptodon ensatus (Dicamptodontidae), Necturus maculosus (Proteidae), and Dermophis sp. (Costa Rica) (Caeciliidae) were prepared for transmission electron microscope and electron microprobe analysis of the trace elements of the enamel layer. The enamel layer of these species is very thin and the arrangement of enamel crystals variable. In particular, the outer part of the enamel layer in which hydroxyapatite elements (Ca, P) and trace elements (e.g., F, Fe, Mg) are concentrated, is most heavily mineralized. The concentrations and alignment of crystals in the outer and inner parts of the enamel layer differ among these species.The presence of collagen fibers in the inner part of the enamel layer of Cryptobranchus and Dermophis indicates that it is enameloid rather than true enamel. The presence of trace elements may be related to the pattern of mineralization of enamel or enameloid, as suggested for tetra-odontiform fishes by Suga et al. (J. Dent. Res. 68:1115-1123, 1989). © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: A statistical and functional relationship between neural canal anatomy and locomotor mode is demonstrated in living marine mammals of the Order Carnivora. This relationship is interpreted to be the result of differential innervation and territory of musculature involved in generating the six locomotor patterns analyzed. This osteological reflection of a behavioral trait allows prediction of locomotor pattern in extinct genera of closely related taxa. The robust data allow such predictions even when a considerable number of presacral vertebrae are missing in the fossil specimens. In some cases, these predictions conflict with interpretations based solely on limb osteology. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Technique. This work is based not only on the fixed preparations, but also on fresh cover-slip preparations treated with neutral red or 2 per cent osmic acid for a short time.Golgi elements and fatty yolk. The Golgi elements are hollow vesicular bodies with a distinct osmiophilic rim and a central osmiophobic substance. In the youngest oocyte they form a circumnuclear ring. Gradually the vesicles spread out, grow in size, store up fat in their interior, and give rise to the fatty yolk. On account of their higher refractive index, due to the presence of fat, the Golgi vesicles can be occasionally seen even in the young oocytes without any treatment.Mitochondria. The mitochondrial granules also form a circumnuclear ring and are later distributed uniformly.Albuminous yolk. The albuminous yolk is nucleolar in origin. Early in oogenesis, the nucleous buds off small, homogeneous, and highly chromatic particles in the cytoplasm, which sooner or later disappear. Subsequently, the nucleolus becomes less chromatic and develops vacuolar bodies in its interior, which, becoming vacuolated exactly like the parent nucleolus, migrate into the the cytoplasm. These bodies become more and more chromatic and travel toward the periphery of the egg, where they grow in size. Ultimately they break down into small, homogeneous, and highly chromatic bodies which are the definitive albuminous yolk spheres and which subsequently grow enormously in size.

Notes: Maturation of the male germ cells in the rat shows some slight modifications of the typical procedure in sex cells, a distinct and rather prolonged synapsis occurring before synizesis and a confused stage immediately after it. The clumping in synizesis is not extreme. In the mixed strain of rats both twenty-one and thirty-one tetrads appear in the late diakinesis. This procedure in the male resembles the maturation of the oocytes in only two points, the beginning of the process, the deutobroch nuclei, and the end of it when the haploid number of chromosomes take their places on the spindle.

Notes: The cells of the blastoderm which are to form the serosa are two- to four-nucleate; the smaller cells of the embryonic rudiment, uninucleate. The band-like embryonic rudiment encircles the yolk at the equator of the egg. The amnion does not begin to form until after the serosa completely covers embryo and yolk. The epithelium of the midgut arises from cells situated at the tips of stomodaeum and proctodaeum. These cells, though not differentiated from adjacent ectoderm at the time of the invagination, are nevertheless interpreted as part of the preprimordium of the endoderm. In the eighty-four-hour stage a fold of amnion grows over the dorsal side of the embryo, entirely covering it in the course of the next few hours. A portion of the amnion thus forms the dorsal wall of the embryo. At the completion of the amnion the embryo rotates so that its ventral side is directed toward the egg center. The amnion raptures just before the larva begins to feed on the yolk which still remains around it. The serosa is consumed before hatching, which takes place about five and one-half days after deposition.

Notes: The caeca of fourteen bantam fowls have been studied. These fowls ranged in age from six days' incubation to three years after hatching. Between the fifth and sixth days of incubation rectal caeca arise as evaginations from the intestine at the junction of the ileum with the colon. The develoing caeca closely resemble histologically the intestine to which they are attached.The caeca are essentially devoid of content until about the nineteenth day of incubation, but during the remaining days of incubation are gorged with a bluish-gray material similar to that found in the colon. Thus, an early defecatory function is indicated.In general, the proximal third of the caeca remains histologically similar to the intestine, but the distal two-thirds undergoes regression. The latter involves the atrophy of the epithelium and glands, accompanied by the appearance of lymphoid tissue. Much of the lymphoid tissue eventually disappears, to a large extent by atrophy and dissolution of the leukocytes. However, to some extent, lymphocytes develop into granulocytes which escape with other leukocytes into the lumina of the caeca and there disintegrate.Lymph nodules begin to appear in the caeca about one week after the chick hatches. The leukocytes, at least in part, arise in situ from the reticular stroma. Eosinophils arise in certain areas of the tunica propria, and in the earlier stages of their development resemble large lymphocytes, in the cytoplasm of which basophilic, amphophilic, and acidophilic granules are intermingled.

Notes: In the ovary of the rat the ova arise by proliferations from the germinal epithelium, all cells of which are potential ova. This proliferation begins with the differentiation of the gonad, and may last as long as 369 days postpartum. The embryonic ovary is filled with ova which pass through the typical maturation phases. This continues until five days after parturition. These ova degenerate, none being found in the ovary of the twenty-day rat. After the fifth day postpartum, nuclear development in the ova changes until, by the twentieth day, no typical maturation phases are present. With the degeneration of the embryonic ova the ovary takes on the adult structure.The ovary of the adult female rat shows a modified type of meiosis in the germ cells, while that of the embryo shows the typical phases, indicating that this is the primitive type, with the modified form an acquired characteristic.Ova in a single rat may show both twenty-one and thirty-one chromosomes.Follicle cells are formed from the cells of the germinal epithelium and, like the sex cells, may have both forty-two and sixty-two chromosomes in a single follicle. The lutein cells also show both forty-two and sixty-two chromosomes in a single corpus luteum. The chromosomes of the lutein cells enlarge with the expansion of the cell to a size greatly in excess of the chromosomes of the somatic cells. The theca interna is derived from the tunica albuginea.

Notes: Development of the adult fly foot falls into clearly defined phases of cell division, growth, cuticle secretion and cell death. The pulvillus is composed dorsally of two giant cells and ventrally of thousands of minute tenent cells; the former produce the dorsal footpad cuticle and the latter the thousands of tenent hairs. Cell divisions are still occurring in future tenent cells when increase in size of the cells and in polyteny of the chromosomes is already occurring in the two dorsal cells. Also cell death occurs considerably earlier in the tenent cells, yet the sequential secretion of some six cuticular layers takes place at comparable times in dorsal and ventral cuticles. The cuticular layers formed are, in their order of secretion: ecdysial membrane, cuticulin of the epicuticle, dense exocuticle, homogeneous exocuticle, an intermediate layer, wax of the epicuticle, and an extensive mass of endocuticle. The ecdysial membrane seems to perform an important mechanical role in maintaining the shape of the delicate cytoplasmic projections of the tenent cells, before and during cuticle secretion, and in establishing the cuticular pattern of ridges in the dorsal cuticle. Comparisons are made with trichogen cell cuticle development and with tracheal cuticle. Tracheal, trichogen and dorsal footpad cuticle patterns are compared.Details of giant cell activity provide a working basis for studies of nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, and the whole system raises many unsolved problems in the general field of cell differentiation and pattern formation.

Notes: A detailed description of the innervation of the individual muscles of the antenna of the centipede Scolopendra morsitans is given. There are six nerves supplying the antennal muscles of each side. The nerve N I consists of 26 bundles of which two are motor, 12 sensory and 12 are mixed. It innervates the intrinsic muscles of the antenna and the antennal sense organs. The nerves N II, N III and N IV innervate the dorsal extrinsic muscles and the nerve N V and N VI the ventral extrinsic muscles.

Notes: Dense bodies in the heart muscle of Venus mercenaria exist in two forms, free and attached. Free dense bodies morphologically consist of fascicles of thin filaments in parallel array and bound together by a dense, amorphous proteinaceous material. The binding of dense bodies to the cell membrane is effected via connecting filaments of the amorphous material of the dense body which join a condensation of morphologically similar material attached to the inner osmiophilic layer of the unit membrane. This composite of dense body, connecting filaments, membrane condensation and unit cell membrane has been termed collectively the attachment plaque. The attachment plaque is part of an extensive network on the cell surface which obligates that surface to a role in the contractile process. Moreover, this set of attachment plaques imposes an organization and an orientation to most thin filaments of the cell and preserves the contractile axis of the cell.

Notes: Large quantities of colloidal particles were rapidly transported around the junctional complex into the lateral intercellular spaces by flounder renal epithelial cells. Large invaginations containing particles developed in the apical cytoplasm of cells when tracer particles were injected into the tubular lumens. Some membranebounded profiles containing particles appeared close to the lateral intercellular spaces. Particles were then found in the lateral intercellular spaces, between the basal plasmalemma and the basement membrane, and within the basement membrane. It is suggested that this transport might operate in situ and provide a morphological mechanism to explain a type of protein transport noted in the renal tubules of another flounder species by Maack and Kinter ('67). It is interesting to consider that perhaps a similar mechanism for the transport of intact proteins might also operate in mammalian nephrons as well.

Notes: The ventral lobe of the adenohypophysis of the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis, a viviparous elasmobranch, has been found to possess distinctive cells identified as basophils on the basis of staining properties. At maximum size, such a cell consists of a distended vesicle containing PAS-positive, AF-negative material surrounded by a thin envelope of cytoplasm and an eccentric nucleus. In earlier stages of these cells, vesicles are small or absent and granules in the more abundant cytoplasms are AF or Alcian-positive.Basophil numbers are high in pre-ovulation and mid-ovulation females, decrease markedly after the end of ovulation until embryos are about 1 cm long then increase greatly during August and September while embryos grow to 8 cm in length. Early high counts, if these basophils are gonadotropes, may be correlated with stimulation of the ovary and ovulation; reduced numbers suggest inhibition, possibly by ovarian hormones for a period, while subsequent increase may indicate indirect involvement in uterine conditions in this viviparous species. Conclusion are, admittedly, tentative as specimens were available during only a fraction of the ten month gestation period.

Notes: The serigenous glands of a number of different sawfly larvae have been examined. Silk is secreted by pear-shaped cells which may be fused together in pairs or triplets, or exist simply as free, single cells. The cells are arranged in numerous groups attached to a pair of wide silk reservoirs by means of short canals. Each gland cell contains a large, irregular, ramifying nucleus and an intracellular duct which receives droplets of synthesised silk protein. Two modifications of this basic arrangement are described. It is suggested that the secretory cells are dermal gland cells, and that the intracellular duct is a rudimentary end-apparatus. A comparison is made between these and some other types of dermal gland cell found in insects.

Notes: The structure of human labial salivary gland acini was studied by light and electron microscopy. Contrary to previous reports, these glands were pure mucous in nature; no serous elements were present. The acinar cells were found in all stages of maturation. Immature cells were characterized by an extensive and highly organized rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The Golgi complex was extremely prominent, consisting of stacks of flattened cisternae and swarms of small vesicles. Mucous droplets were almost completely absent. As secretory activity progressed, the endoplasmic reticulum involuted, while the Golgi cisternae became distended and formed many vacuoles. In mature mucous cells, the apical cytoplasm was filled with membrane-bounded mucous droplets, and the nucleus was displaced basally. The droplets frequently showed great variation in density from cell to cell, and even within the same cell they sometimes were quite heterogeneous. They were liberated from the acinar cells by an apocrine process, so that droplets with intact limiting membranes were often observed in the acinar lumen. These droplets soon lysed, their contents fusing into streams of mucus. Occasionally during apocrine secretion a mucous cell failed to reconstitute its apical surface, and its entire contents spilled into the acinar lumen.Unusual cytoplasmic inclusions were present in many of the acinar cells. These inclusions, which were surrounded by a single membrane, consisted of lipid droplets closely associated with bundles of fine filaments.

Notes: Oogenesis and embryonic development in the marine sponge, Haliclona ecbasis, were studied using standard histological procedures.When the oocytes reach a diameter of about 30 μ, nurse cells begin to aggregate around them. Then when the oocytes are about 36 μ in diameter, they begin to engulf the associated nurse cells. Whole nurse cells are engulfed; and although the nucleus of the nurse cells disappears either as or soon after the cells are engulfed, the cytoplasm remains essentially unchanged. The accumulation of these cells within the oocytes most of the cytoplasm is nurse cell cytoplasm.During cleavage of the egg, the engulfed nurse cells are gradually fragmented, but otherwise appear unchanged. At the same time the cytoplasm of the nurse cells is progressively incorporated into that of the blastomeres by what appears to be fusion process. When the latter process is complete, the embryo develops into a typical parenchymula larva.

Notes: The hands of the Hominoidea evidence four adaptive modes which distinguish the lesse apes (Hylobatidae), the orangutan (Pongo), the African apes (Pan), and man (Homo) from one another. The hands of the apes consist of compromises between manipulatory and locomotor functions because selection has operated for precision of grip as well as for special locomotor mechanisms. The human hand is almost totally devoted to manipulation. The hands of gibbons, orangutans and the African apes differ in many features that may be correlated with locomotion. The gibbons and siamang are specially adapted for ricochetal arm-swinging. The great apes possess morphological adaptations for arboreal foraging and climbing distinct from those of the hylobatids. In addition, the African apes have become secondarily adapted for terrestrial quadrupedal locomotion. Many features that distinguish the hands of chimpanzees and gorillas may be associated with the development of efficient knuckele-walking propulsive and support mechanisms.

Notes: Ampullary organs of the transparent catfish, Kryptopterus bicirrhus, are present in large numbers on the head and in a regular pattern of lines on the body and fins. The organs lie in the epidermis, and have a pore that opens to the surface. Flattened cells form a roof and walls. On the floor of the organ there are a “sensory hillock,” composed of spherical receptor cells and columnar supporting cells, and a “secretory hillock” composed of columnar secretory cells. The receptor cells are nonciliated and have only afferent innervation. The organ cavity is filled with jelly. The organs are compared with ampullary organs of the weakly electric fish Eigenmannia, ampullae of Lorenzini of Raja, and small pit organs of Amiurus. Structural characteristics of the ampullary organs of Kryptopterus make them especially suitable for electrophysiological studies.

Notes: A detailed topography of adrenergic innervation in invertebrates (lobster), low vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds), and nine species of mammals is presented. Flack and Hillarp's specific fluorescent histochemical method using freeze-dried material was used. Phylogenetically, adrenergic innervation appeared earlier under the ciliary epithelium and in the muscle than surrounding the vessels, and in all species many fibers were without any connection to the vessel walls. Adrenergic innervation was very rich in the dilator muscle extending toward the epithelium of the posterior chamber; a surprisingly rich network was found in the sphincter muscle and also in ciliary spaces of some species. Numerous fluorescent mast cells were visualized in the pecten of the bird eye and in the ciliary tissue of the sheep and cow.

Notes: The cecropia moth oocyte accumulates proteins from the blood during vitellogenesis; the proteins reach the oocyte by an intercellular route, are taken in by pinocytosis, and become components of the protein yolk spheres. Different proteins vary greatly in the extent to which they are incorporated into the yolk spheres. One objective of the work described in this paper was to determine where the selectivity of protein uptake occurs. An autoradiographic analysis of the uptake of tritiated blood proteins injected into the hemocoel indicated that there are at least two sites of selectivity - one between the hemocoel and the intercellular spaces of the follicular epithelium that surrounds each oocyte, and another between the intercellular spaces and the yolk spheres. Another objective was to determine if only proteins from the blood are deposited in the protein yolk spheres. Studies of the incorporation of tritiated leucine provided evidence that the ovary itself synthesizes proteins that are deposited in the yolk spheres along with the blood proteins. Finally, evidence is presented that the various regions of the oocyte cortex are not equally active in the deposition of yolk.

Notes: The mechanisms of development of posterior levels of neural tubes of chick embryos were analyzed by study of serial cross-sections of a continuous series of normal embryos between 40 to 72 hours of incubation. Two extirpation experiments were performed in ovo on other embryos of the same stages. Descriptive studies revealed the presence of an overlap zone in which two types of neural tube formation occurred. Open neural tube formation (by fusion of neural folds) occurred dorsally in this region; closed neural tube formation (by canalization of solid medullary cord tissue) occurred ventrally. Extirpation of the posterior end of the neural plate produced defects within the lumbosacral region, indicating that the posterior neural plate participates in the formation of the lumbosacrum, and that the overlap zone is therefore in the lumbosacral region. Extirpation of the prospective neural tissue in the anterior end of the tail bud indicated that only the most posterior levels of the neural tube originate exclusively by cavitation of the tail bud. In both extirpation experiments a neural tube formed independently within the tail bud tissue, indicating that formation of the neural tube in this region is not dependent upon direct continuity with neural tissue anteriorly.

Notes: The interstitial cells of Pennaria tiarella differentiate exclusively from the central endoderm of the planula. Shortly after their appearance, most of the interstitial cells become cnidoblasts. Subsequently, as the larva transforms into a polyp, both cnidoblasts and interstitial cells migrate from the endoderm, through endoblast and mesoglea, into the ectoderm. It is suggested that some interstitial cells remain in the endoderm and differentiate into the gland and mucous cells of the polyp gastroderm.

Notes: A series of dimensions of the shoulder girdle of primates has previously been chosen as being related to function in that anatomical region. Their examination by canonical analysis suggests that they do indeed reflect aspects of the use of the shoulder in locomotion in the different primates.Further analysis is here performed using the technique of neighborhood limited classification and this confirms the basic picture presented by the previous analysis. The new method also gives more detailed information about the grouping of the specimens; thus it endorses the reality of functional divisions that appear to exist in the data. And in addition the groupings reflect differences in the structure of the shoulder that correlate well with certain taxonomic subdivisions of the order. The method maintains contact with individual specimens throughout the analysis and is capable of placing them within groups, at the boundaries of groups, within the interfaces between groups, or as satellites to groups.The new method appears to have a part to play in the description of the relationships between biological objects that is complementary to that of canonical analysis. As the mathematical concepts upon which the two techniques are based differ totally, the risk that the results might be inherent in statistical assumptions is thus averted.

Notes: In the annelid Enchytraeus albidus the ovary is composed of packets containing eight synchronously developing oocytes. Each oocyte in the packet is connected, via a bridge, to a common cytoplasmic mass. Developmental synchrony of oocytes within individual packets is probably related to the ooplasmic continuity.The young previtellogenic oocyte contains many polysomes, a few cisternae of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, small Golgi complexes, and mitochondria. Many of the mitochondria are dumbbell-shaped and may thus represent division stages.Vitellogenesis is marked by the appearance of peripherally located lipid yolk and small, densely staining granules scattered throughout the ooplasm. There is an increase of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and enlarged Golgi elements. Small multivesicular-like bodies, the early stages of developing yolk, are derived from the Golgi complex. The mature yolk sphere is bipartite and consists of (a) a variable number of dense spheres, the core bodies, which are produced in the ooplasm by the Golgi complex and which become embedded in (b) a dense matrix. The electron opaque tracer, horseradish peroxidase is incorporated into the oocyte and deposited in the matrix suggesting that this component of the yolk sphere is obtained by micropinocytosis. Enzyme digestions and various cytochemical techniques suggest that the core bodies are rich in carbohydrate, probably as glyco- or mucoproteins, and that the matrix is rich in lipid.

Notes: The fine structure of the thyroid of the newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was studied with the electron microscope. Specimens were injected I.P. with 30 μc of I131 and sample thryoids were examined at 12 hour intervals thereafter. The ultrastructure of the normal thyroid gland is described, and compared with that of the irradiated glands. The first visible ultrastructural change observed after injection of the radioiodin was a striking alteration of nuclear morphology. This effect was followed by an increase in the frequency of whorled lamellar structures, a decrease in the number of microvilli, and degeneration of the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Further effects observed included an increase in the number of large cytoplasmic granules and a decrease in the number of smaller ones, the presence of autophagic vacuoles, and finally, an increase in the number of degenerated mitochondria.

Notes: In order to obtain more direct evidence for the occurrence of myoblast fusion in the developing amphibian embryo, the following transplantations were performed in vitro. The nuclei of early embryos. Ambystoma tigrinum and A. maculatum, were labeled with tritiated thymidine. Portions of prospective somite areas from these labeled donors were grafted homoplastically and orthotopically into unlabeled hosts of the same, or nearly the same, stage. The stages employed were: neurula, early tail bud, and late tail bud. Hosts were raised until they had developed into more advanced larval forms, fixed, sectioned, and prepared for radioautographic processing according to the customary procedures.The histological preparations contained varying numbers of multinucleate myotubes of a “composite” nature: that is, individual myotubes contained labeled nuclei of the donor, side by side with unlabeled nuclei of the host. There was no doubt that the mononucleate myoblasts of the grafts had fused with those of the host species to form the mutlinucleate composite myotubes.In addition to the above determinations, the method of thymidine labeling has proven to be a satisfactory method of tracing, in the context of the intact organism, somitic cell derivatives up to the feeding larval stage. Mesenchymal cells from the grafted labeled somitic tissues were consequently found in: dermatomic, sclerotomic and intermyotomic locations; the matrix of the dorsal fin; the limb bud; the abdominal muscles.

Notes: The fine structure of the mid-gut epithelium and regenerative cells of larvae of a moth (Ephestia kühniella) is described. Particular attention is paid to the absorptive and goblet cells and their lateral junctions; these features are discussed in terms of the digestive and regulatory functions of the epithelium. One digestive pathway has been investigated with the aid of ingested ferritin; intake of this marker by endocytosis and the evident involvement of Golgi vesicles in the transformation of endocytic vesicles into multivesicular bodies, together with the fate of the latter, are discussed in terms of the digestive function of this part of the alimentary tract and of the lysosome concept.

Notes: The endoskeletal structure supporting the gill-books of Limulus polyphemus has been investigated by means of light and electron microscopy, chemical analysis and x-ray diffraction. This tissue is a cartilage which has significant correspondences with both vertebrate cartilage and plant tissues. Morphologically, the Limulus cartilage resembles certain cellular vertebrate cartilages with relatively scant matrix, and also certain plant parenchyme, collenchyme and sclerenchyme tissues. Of particular interest, was the observation that during cytoplasmic division, a phragmasome-like structure appears between the daughter cells of the dividing gill cartilage cells. This phragmasome-like structure appears to be a precursor of new matrix (cell-wall) formation between the young chondrocytes, in much the same fashion as its counterpart in plant tissues. Perichondrial cells and underlying chondrocytes contain lipid droplets, abundant glycogen and ribosomes, as do corresponding vertebrate cartilage cells. In some of the Limulus cells, glycogen and ribosomes appear to be admixed with lipid, forming aggregates in which all three materials are in intimate intraparticulate relationship. During molting, the number of ribosomes seen in chondrocytes increases. The tissue contains both hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and gives a weak x-ray diffraction pattern.

Notes: A principal component analysis revealed that the two major components of mandibular shape variation among individuals within breeding groups of white-tailed deer in Canada and the United States involve contrasts between the mandible and the dentition and between the premolars and the molars. Size variation appeared to account for 34% of the total variation within the groups, and the two major shape variations accounted for 23% and 8% respectively.A canonical analysis was used to identify the major components of mandibular variation among the breeding groups and to provide measures of the proportion of the total variation accounted for by each component. Among male groups, size variation was associated with latitude, and the major shape variation was closely associated with longitude, so a bivariate plot of the first two canonical variates reflected the general geographic orientation of the populations.The mandibular size in a Tennessee population that descended from Wisconsin and Michigan ancestors appears to have not decreased appreciably in the more southerly habitat after introduction more than 20 years ago. Changes in range conditions in eastern Upper Michigan over the past 30 years have not influenced local mandibular morphology as reflected by the first two canonical variates. Regardless of general smallness of individuals, the mandibular morphology of the deer from the Cross Timbers area in Kansas appears to approximate more closely that of northern populations than that of the more southerly populations from Oklahoma and Texas.Sexual dimorphism on the first two canonical axes was observed.

Notes: Structural and functional changes have been correlated during metamorphic degeneration of a single muscle fiber, the plantar retractor of G. mellonella, its axon, and their junctions to determine which features persist as long as muscle contractility. Changes commence simultaneously in muscle and nerve near cuticular attachments, and spread towards the center. Alterations associated with the muscle, including appearance of collapsed tracheoles and mitochondria with dense bodies, begin late in the last larval instar. Within 12 hours after pupal ecdysis some tracheolar withdrawal occurs, sarcoplasmic reticulum becomes reduced, and many mitochondria have dense bodies, dense membranes, or are enlarged. By 17-19 hours primary myofilaments and striations begin to disappear, microtubules and autophagic vacuole-like bodies appear, and phagocytes invade the muscle. It remains partially contractile upon electrically stimulating its nerve, the ventral nerve, until these changes spread throughout the fiber.Neuromuscular junction changes, including appearance of dense mitochondria and isolation bodies, begin late in the last larval instar. Junctions become fewer, and none remain in those muscle areas where tracheoles, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and primary myofilaments have disappeared.Preliminary studies on nerve discharge activity to the muscle suggest that nerve silence occurs at approximately the time when the muscle loses all contractility. In some axons isolation bodies appear and neurotubules are lost, other axons remain unchanged, and new ones develop later in the pupal state. Phagocytes invade the neural lamella and it disappears in the late pupa, but it reappears in the adult.The adult ventral nerve has over three times more axons and a thinner layer of glial cells than the larval nerve.

Notes: Ampullary receptor organs of the South American weakly electric gymnotid fish Eigenmannia virescens consist of a pore at the surface of the skin, a canal through the epidermis, and the expanded basal end of the canal in the corium. The cavity of the organ contains a jelly that is filled with fine fibers. The canal wall consists of three to six layers of flattened cells that appear to be derived from the adjacent skin. Along the lumen of the organ the cells are joined by tight junctions. Usually there are four spherical receptor cells in the base of the organ. They are innervated by single neural terminals. These organs are compared to tuberous receptor organs found in the same species, and the functional significance of the fine structure observed in these cells is discussed.

Notes: The campaniform sensilla on halteres of Drosophila were studied by electron microscopy in order to establish the relationships of functional elements in the sensory system. The surface of the sensillum consists of an oval cuticular cap membrane which may contain resilin, the rubberlike protein. A border of denser cuticle rings the cap membrane, and extending down around the neural process is a third type of cuticle filled with a fourth light fibrous type. The four cuticular components form a system for displacement of the neural process. The neural process is differentiated into a terminal fan-shaped structure projecting from a bulbous dilatation which tapers to a neck region ending proximally with two basal bodies. The neural process is packed with microtubules. Surrounding the dendrite is an inner enveloping cell, attached to the basal body region by septate desmosomes and by desmosomes to which microtubules of the enveloping cell are applied. An outer enveloping cell surrounds the inner one. The tip of the neural process is covered with a dense secretion which is tightly bound to the cap membrane. The dense secretion is surrounded by an extracellular fluid which might be compressed hydraulically by the cuticular system. The stimulus of cuticular distortion could thus be transmitted to the neural process which may be displaced between its fixed ends.

Notes: The heteropteran cibarium forms a sucking pump which conveys fluid foods into the pharynx. The food pumps of Hydrocorisae have the additional function of grinding or filtering particulate matter; they contain ridges, hairs, and sclerotized processes which have probably evolved at least twice among the hydrocorisine families. Aphelocheirus, like the Naucoridae, possesses a modified anteclypeus and a tripartite type of food pump. The main sucking action occurs in the pump's anterior and posterior regions, while the middle region is specialized for grinding and filtering. The anteclypeus has broadened and fused with other parts of the cranium, and is thus braced against the pull of the powerful cibarial dilator muscles. In the Naucoridae the three regions of the pump have the same functions as those of Aphelocheirus. The pumps of the five naucorid genera here studied are structurally very similar to each other but differ considerably from that of Aphelocheirus. Cibarial morphology, as well as respiratory differences, thus supports the contention that Aphelocheirus is not a member of the Naucoridae but should be placed in a separate family.

Notes: Drosophila melanogaster homozygous for the second chromosomal, recessive lethal gene 1(2)gl form puparia much later than wild type (+) and are unable to metamorphose. Implantation of + ring glands accelerates puparium formation by 1(2)gl hosts. The ring gland is a compound structure containing the prothoracic glands (pg), corpus allatum (ca), and corpus cardiacum (cc). An electron microscopic study demonstrates that in both the pg and ca the most common subcellular component is smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (ser). In + flies the amount of ser per pg increases by ten times during the four hour prepupal period. In 1(2)gl flies which have spent two days in the prepupal period the pg looks juvenile and contains only 1% the amount of ser per cell found in the + prepupal pg. The ca cells look alike in both + and 1(2)gl individuals, and the cortical cells of the cc in both contain abundant neurosecretory spheres. We suggest that the + allele of 1(2)gl indirectly influences the synthesis of ser by the pg and that this is the site where dietary cholesterol is transformed to ecdysone.

Notes: An analysis of differentiating oocytes of the gastropod, Ilyanassa obsoleta, has been made by techniques of light and electron microscopy. Early previtellogenic oocytes are limited by a smooth surfaced oolemma and are associated with each other by maculae adhaerentes. Previtellogenic oocytes are also distinguished by a large nucleus containing randomly dispersed aggregates of chromatin. Within the ooplasm are Golgi complexes, mitochondria and a few cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. When vitellogenesis begins, the oolemma becomes morphologically specialized by the formation of microvilli. One also notices an increase in the number of organelles and inclusions such as lipid droplets. During vitellogenesis there is a dilation of the saccules of the Golgi complexes and cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. Associated with the Golgi complexes are small protein-carbohydrate yolk precursors encompassed by a membrane. These increase in size by fusing with each other. The “mature” yolk body is a membrane-bounded structure with a central striated core and a granular periphery. At maturity a major portion of the ooplasmic constituents such as as mitochondria and lipid droplets occupy the animal region while the bulk of the population of yolk bodies are situated in the vegetal hemisphere.The follicle cells incompletely encompass the developing oocyte. In addition to the regularly occurring organelles, follicle cells are characterized by the presence of large quantities of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes whose saccules are filled with a dense substance. Associated with the Golgi saccules are secretory droplets of varied size.Amongst the differentiating oocytes and follicle cells are Leydig cells. These cells are characterized by a large vacuole containing glycogen. A possible function for the follicle and Leydig cells is discussed.

Notes: The ultrastructure of the sensilla, and other structures, within the precibaria of eight species from three subfamilies of leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) were examined with scanning electron microscopy. The types and grouping of the 20 precibarial sensilla in seven of these species were similar to those observed previously in Macrosteles fascifrons Stål. Oncometopia nigricans (Walker) also displayed similar sensilla groups; however, it had 30 sensilla. The species examined differed chiefly in the exact location and arrangement of the sensilla. The possible significance of the differences relative to leafhopper feeding is discussed. The precibarial chemosensilla may provide chemosensory evaluation of fluid in the food canal and precibarium prior to ingestion or egestion.

Notes: During the sahelian dry season (November to June) the lizard Varanus exanthematicus fasts, and during these 8 months its pancreatic acinar cells lack zymogen granules and show an inactive Golgi body and damaged mitochondria. The main peculiarity can be observed in the granular endoplasmic reticulum (GER): Each acinar cell posesses a great number of GER vesicles (mean diameter 0.15 μm) and a large spheroid GER resulting from either the nesting of some cisternae or the rolling up of a single cisternae on itself. Attention is focused on the possible relationship between this ultrastructure and alteration of protein metabolism.

Notes: The structure and secretory activity of the accessory salivary gland in two species of Conus were examined using routine and histochemical techniques of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy.The composite layers of the accessory salivary gland of Conus are a luminal epithelium, fibromuscular layer, submuscular layer, and a capsule. In C. flavidus and C. vexillum, the luminal epithelium is formed by epitheliocytes and cytoplasmic processes extending from the secretory cells, whose perikarya form the submuscular layer. The processes carry secretory cell products (chiefly Golgi-derived glycoprotein) across the fibromuscular layer and terminate between epitheliocytes (at the bases of the secretory canaliculi) or beyond the surface of the epithelial cells. Conus vexillum is distinguished from C. flavidus by its high content of lipofuscin. Epitheliocytes are the only microvillated cells in the accessory salivary gland of Conus. In C. flavidus, epitheliocytes extrude secretory granules, various types of cytoplasmic blebs and clear vesicles by apocrine “pinching off”. Clear vesicles are shed from the tips of microvilli. The luminal epithelial cells of C. vexillum similarly egest clear vesicles, but normally undergo additional holocrine secretion to release lipofuscin.The secretions of epitheliocytes appear to be major products of the accessory salivary gland: consideration of secretory activities by both epitheliocytes and secretory cells will therefore be necessary when directly investigating accessory salivary gland function in Conus.

Notes: Cytological changes following transection of the proximal root of the trigeminal ganglion in adult rats were assessed by light and electron microscopy. Radices were transected about 3-5 mm from the ganglia and animals were killed from 1 to 60 days after the operation. Light microscopically, it was found that all Nissl granules became uniformly stained and evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm within 3 days. Three types of cell alteration involving Nissl granules occurred within 3 to 12 days after the operation: (1) chromatolysis, (2) dark staining of the cytoplasm accompanied by an increase of Nissl granules, and (3) faint staining of the cytoplasm accompanied by dispersion of Nissl granules. Electron microscopically, the chromatolysis pattern was characterized by peripheral concentration of the granular endoplasmic reticulum (gER) and ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Neurons of the darkstaining type showed an increased number of polysomal complexes throughout the cytoplasm, whereas those of the faint-staining type had diffusely dispersed cisternae of the gER which were shortened and bore reduced numbers of attached ribosomes. Perinuclear localization of profiles of Golgi complexes disappeared temporarily 1-3 days after the operation, but the normal perinuclear pattern appeared to return after 1 week. Enzyme histochemistry of acid phosphatase activity revealed an increase in the number of very fine reaction products in the cytoplasm up to 14 days following the operation. Cells recovered the normal pattern of Nissl staining by 48 days. Myelin figures, which are rarely observed in normal ganglia, were still observed in dense lysosomal bodies after 30 days. Nuclear size in affected neurons steadily increased up to about 2 weeks postoperation but returned to normal by 48 days.

Notes: Profiles of muscle fiber types and pharyngeal jaw dentition vary in accordance with trophic demands and skeletal organization in teleost fishes. Carnivorous, omnivorous, and molluscivorous members of the ecologically analogous Cichlidae and Centrarchidae were compared in terms of their pharyngeal jaw anatomy and branchial muscle histochemistry. The two families differed greatly in patterns of tooth form, wear, and replacement. Four muscle fiber type patterns were discoverd: (1) single fiber, (2) zoned, (3) mosaic, and (4) zoned-mosaic. Multiple fiber type muscles were more prevalent in fishes that masticate tough foods with their pharyngeal jaws. Such muscles were also more prevalent in cichlids than in centrarchids. It appears that muscles with multiple fiber types in lower vertebrates are, as a rule, compartmentalized, whereas in higher vertebrates, multiple fiber type muscles are a musaic matrix. The occurrence of mosaic patterns in some fish branchial muscles, however, suggests that mosaic muscles are initially single fiber type muscles exposed to complex functional demands, such as food preparation. Furthermore, it is plausible that the evolutionary replacement of the lower vertebrate zoning pattern by the higher vertebrate mosaic matrix is directly related to the effects of gravity, a force more influential on terrestrial than on aquatic organisms.

Notes: The bile ducts in the liver of larval sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, undergo programmed degeneration during metamorphosis. The degenerative process is most dramatic in the middle metamorphic stages (3-5), and is asynchronous, occurring more rapidly in small peripheral biliary components than in larger, medial ducts. All classes of bile ducts within the biliary tree exhibit similar histological changes during regression.The initial evidence of degeneration in the epithelium is a folding of the basal lamina, and this is accompanied by cell shrinkage and disruption of cell order. “Shedding” of microvilli and cytoplasmic constituents then takes place at the apical surface resulting in the accumulation of periodic acid-Schiff positive membranous debris in the lumen. The apperance of “hyalin bodies” in the lumen coincides with the depletion of intermediate-sized filaments from the cytoplasmic matrix. Numerous, large dense bodies, myelin figures, and autophagic vacuoles are consistently observed in necrotic cells. Following cytolysis, bile duct remnants become ensheathed within regions of fibrosis. Ultimately, these fibrous regions are replaced with cords of hepatocytes. By stage 7, all bile ducts have disappeared.The events of biliary atresia in lampreys are comparable to tissue regression which is associated with normal development and pathological conditions in other vertebrates but are particularly reminiscent of those in human biliary atresia. The unique ability of the adult lamprey to survive without bile ducts enhances the value of this organism as an experimental model for studying human biliary atresia.

Notes: In Pieris rapae the external structure of meso- and metathoraces includes intersegmental folds as well as 4 transverse shallow grooves on the dorsal side and 2 on the ventral side in addition to several leg segments. The musculature of both segments is very similar, but has some segment-specificity. Sixty-seven muscle are common to both hemi-mesothorax and hemimetathorax. Four are specific for the mesothorax and 3 for the metathorax. Moreover, thickness and number of subdivisions of some common muscles are specific for one segment. Attachments areas of all muscles are clearly indicated on the pattern of cuticular grooves. They have a tendency to pile up or line up to form various sizes of united attachment sites, most of which are located on or near the cuticular groove. On the other hand all grooves have some muscle attachment sites. Thus, attachments of larval muscles may relate to formation of the grooves. Comparison of the musculature with that previously reported for some lepidopteran larvae shows a major common basic plan and minor interspecific variation. Its attachment sites allow the role of each muscle to be inferred for body contraction, bending, and twisting, and for leg direction and flexion.

Notes: Striking ultrastructural and hormonal parameters of premature menopause and aging are reported in female Xyleborus ferrugineus fed cholesterol, rather than 7-dehydrocholesterol, as a sole dietary sterol. The titer of free ecdysteroids in such 63-day-old females remained abnormally elevated through the period of the ovarian cycle. A similar plateauing of such elevated titer also occurred in 147-day-old, irregularly cycling females fed only cholesterol as the dietary sterol. These hormonal changes in menopausing X. ferrugineus females seem especially analogous to the maintenance of an elevated concentration of 17-β-estradiol through the estrous, as well as the proestrous, ovary of aged irregularly cycling rats. The highly abnormal ultrastructure of ovaries of X. ferrugineus females aged 216 days on a diet containing cholesterol as the sole sterol seems quite analogous to that of the nonovulatory follicles in older, irregularly cycling rats. Our new findings involving aging X. ferrugineus females indicate further the usefulness of an insect model to study aging processes.

Notes: The morphology of neurons in the ventral basal complex (VBC) of the adult opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is described from thick coronal brain sections, using Golgi-, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-, and Nissl-staining methods. Soma cross-sectional area, dendritic field shape, and the number of appendages (spines) in a defined major branch zone (MBZ) are quantified and statistically analyzed. Results indicate that neurons in opossum VBC have relatively large cell bodies, dendrites which branch in a tufted pattern, and numerous dendritic appendages. These neurons are designated as relay cells because of (1) their tufted dendritic branch patterns, considered characteristic of thalamic relay cells (Ramon-Moliner, '62), and (2) the similarity of their soma sizes with HRP-labeled somata after somatosensory cortical injections. Neurons with traditionally described interneuron morphology do not appear to be present in the VBC of this animal, and, in this respect, the neuronal morphology of opossum VBC is similar to that in rat (McAllister and Wells, '81).Based on statistical analysis of the structural features observed, the presumed relay cells in opossum VBC do not show significant differences in morphology, and consequently are not subdivided into classes. Opossum VBC neurons are recognized as forming a single category in which broad and continuous variations in morphology are indicated. Recognition of a singular class of relay cell is consistent with descriptions for rat and cat VBC (Scheibel and Scheibel, '66), but at variance with a previous report for the primate Galago VBC (Pearson and Haines, '80) subdividing thalamic relay cells into Types I, II, and intermediate categories.

Notes: Flashing fireflies were permitted to breathe osmium tetroxide vapor, after which the lanterns were removed and the sites of absorption of the osmium into the tissues were detected in two ways: (1) by sonication to remove soft tissues, that is, those that had not been fixed by the osmium gas, and (2) by intensification with thiocarbohydrazide and silver nitrate, in a modification of the osmium-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium (OTO) stain technique. The results of both procedures indicate that the gas first enters into the tissues at the level of the tracheoles. These findings may be interpreted as underscoring the importance of the tracheolar cell and the tracheal end organ in the control of oxygen entry into the lantern tissues, and the implications of the results in the oxygen regulation theory of flash control are discussed.

Notes: The external structure of the 1st (AS1) and 4th abdominal segments (AS4) of Pieris rapae is described in terms of pattern of shallow grooves on the cuticle. Both segments have 5 dorsal costae, 3 ventral costae, and an antero-posterior line in addiction to the dorsal and ventral intersegmental folds and a spiracle. AS4 has a pair of prolegs. The musculatures of AS1 and AS4 consist of 44 and 51 muscles, respectively. As in thoracic ones, most attachments of the muscles are located on the cuticular grooves. AS1 and AS4 have similar musculatures. Common to both segments are 89% of AS1 muscles and 84% of AS4 muscles. AS1 has 6 muscles homologous to proleg ones of AS4, including proleg retractors and plantar retractors. Comparison of the musculature of proleg-bearing abdominal segments among different species shows that abdominal musculature of lepidopteran larvae has major homologous and minor specific muscles. From the muscle attachment sites, the role of each muscle is inferred for contraction and bending of the body, lifting up its venter, taking off the crockets from the substrate, and retraction, lateral abduction, and anterior movement of the proleg.

Notes: The serratus superficailis metapatagialis (SSM) of pigeons is a skeletal muscle with unusual properties. It lies between the ribs and the trailing edge of the wing, where it is attached to the skin by a system of smooth muscles having elastic tendons. Wing movements during flight induce marked changes in this muscle's length. The SSM inserts onto the deep fascia, and at its termination the skeletal muscle contains large numbers of microtubules. Many myofibrils attach to leptomeric organelles, which then attach to the terminal end of the skeletal muscle fiber. The deep fascia next connects to the dermis of the skin by bundles of smooth muscles that have elastic tendons at both ends. This system allows large movements of the muscle while preventing its fibers from overstretching. The movements and presumed forces acting at this muscle make the presence of sensory receptors such as muscle spindles unlikely. Spindles are absent in this muscle.

Notes: The relationship between the hair cell orientation pattern and innervation in the saccule and lagena of the teleost Helostoma temmincki (the kissing gourami) was investigated with scanning electron microscopy and the Winkelmann-Schmitt silver impregnation technique. The hair cell pattern in the saccule consists of four orthogonally oriented groups. The anterior two groups are oriented along the animal's rostrocaudal axis, and the posterior two are oriented along its dorsoventral axis. The pattern of hair cell orientations in the lagena is a typical bidirectional one. Two divisions of the eighth nerve innervate the saccule. The anterior division innervates the horizontally oriented hair cell groups, and the posterior division innervates the dorsoventrally oriented groups. A single nerve innervates the lagena, with the majority of fibers innervating one or the other of the two lagenar hair cell groups. The segregated pattern of innervation according to hair cell orientation groups in the saccule was confirmed in other species. Individual types of axonal terminations appear to innervate hair cells of specific ciliary bundle types.

Notes: Sea anemone gametes arise in the endoderm but migrate into the mesoglea at an early stage. In order to observe this process, large individuals of Actinia fragacea were collected from the same intertidal location at regular intervals over a 2-year period, and their gonads were examined by light and electron microscopy.The cellular origin of the oocytes is unclear, but the smallest recognizable oocytes are rounded cells, 6-8 μm in diameter, with relatively large nuclei which may contain synaptinemalcomplexes. Their cytoplasm contains numerous ribosomes, a flagellar basal-body-rootlet complex, and distinctive dense structures also present in male germ cells but not found in anemone nonger- minal cells. During the endodermal phase of growth, the density of the oocyte nucleus increases, a single nucleolus becomes prominent, and mitochondria and glycogen accumulate in the cytoplasm. Most oocytes, but not all, only begin major vitellogenesis after entry into the mesoglea. Most oocytes enter the mesoglea before they attain a diameter of 25 μm.The oocytes migrate toward and enter the mesoglea by a process resembling amoeboid movement. During entry, the oocytes are constricted into a characteristic “hourglass” shape and become covered by a basal lamina continuous with that of the gonad epithelium. The last part of the oocyte to enter the mesoglea forms an intimate relationship with the surrounding endodermal cells, which is maintained after entry is complete, and is thought to be important in the establishment of the trophonema.

Notes: The surface of a mature, pelagic C-O sole egg is composed of polygonal chambers having four to eight sides, most of which are hexagonally shaped. This honeycomb pattern initially appears on primary oocytes as a thin layer of compact, electron-dense material. Discrete thickenings begin to develop on the envelope of perinuclear stage oocytes. The thickenings lengthen and thin to form the hexagonal walls of the envelope in oocytes undergoing yolk vesicle formation. The walls of each hexagonal chamber occur in an area corresponding to the lateral margins of the adjacent follicle cell, suggesting that the hexagonal walls are produced by the follicle cells. The hexagonal layer is nearly complete at the beginning of vitellogenesis, and as vitellogenesis continues, a striated envelope layer composed of fibrillar lamellae develops between the oocyte and the hexagonal layer. The striated layer appears to be secreted by the oocyte. After vitellogenesis is completed, oocytes are ovulated and double in size during a period of maturation. Concurrently, the striated primary envelope stretches and thins into eight to nine horizontal lamellae. On the mature egg surface, the polygonal chambers are about 24-31 μm in diameter. Within each chamber there is a subpattern of polygonal areas; each polygon is 1.5-2.0 μm in diameter, and circumscribes a pore canal opening. This exceptional envelope may furnish the egg with some degree of protection, resiliency, and buoyancy, but its specific functions are not known.

Notes: Scanning electron microscopy of microcorrosion casts was used to visualize circulatory pathways of the intermediate circulation in nonsinusal spleen of cat. The marginal sinus (MS) around lymphatic nodules is a distinct vascular space which fills preferentially before the filling of the marginal zone (MZ) and surrounding red pulp occurs. The MS, which has a plentiful vascular supply, does not usually enclose the nodule completely. From the MS, flow occurs radially outwards into the MZ. Corrosion casts and histological sections both showed that a diversity of forms of the MZ exists: The thickness of MZ and the arrangement of its reticulum vary among nodules and between different areas of the same nodule, from a complete absence to a region of up to 50 μn width.No direct arteriovenous connections were found (in contrast to dog spleen: Schmidt et al., '83b). Aside from capillary endings in the MS and MZ, all arterial capillaries terminate in the reticular spaces of the red pulp, i.e., the circulation appears to be entirely “open.” From each capillary termination a great variety of flow pathways through the reticular meshwork to the pulp venules is available; some of these routes are quite long but others may involve distances as short as 15-25 μm. Evidence of flow into ellipsoid sheaths was abundant in casts from dilated spleens, but scarce in contracted spleens. In contrast to the extensive system of interconnected venous sinuses in dog spleen, the pulp venules found in cat spleen are nonanastomosing, shorter, and much smaller in caliber, and all receive flow freely from the reticular mesh-work via open ends and fenestrations in their walls.

Notes: The ultrastructure of pike peripheral blood cells, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes is described. At present there are no reliable criteria for differentiating between round thrombocytes and small lymphocytes of fish on a routine basis. At the ultrastructural level thrombocytes could be clearly differentiated from lymphocytes by cytoplasmic canals and vesicles, marginal microtubules, and large glycogen deposits. Electron microscopic identification of thrombocytes was confirmed by examining the ultrastructural features of a purified thrombocyte fraction. In addition, a preliminary investigation of the structure of the haemopoietic cells in the thymus, anterior kidney, and spleen was carried out.

Notes: Innervation of the tongue and associated musculature in plethodontid salamanders was studied using Palmgren stained sectioned materials, fresh dissection, and whole mounts of experimental specimens treated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Species studied were chosen to represent modes of tongue projection recognized by Lombard and Wake ('77). Special attention was given to species of the genera Plethodon, Batrachoseps, Pseudoeurycea, and Hydromantes, but representatives of other genera were investigated. As expected we found that cranial nerves IX and X and spinal nerve 1 supplied the muscles involved in tongue movement. The peripheral courses of the nerves were traced, and both functionally related and phylogenetically determined routes were found. As relative projection length increases, the nerves supplying the tongue tip also increase in length. When the tongue is at rest the long nerves are stored in coils. The coil of ramus lingualis lies between the ceratobranchials, but that of ramus hypoglossus is more variable, although constant within a species. Ramus hypoglossus bifurcates into separate branches to tongue and anterior musculature of the floor of the mouth. In generalized, presumably primitive, modes the bifurcation and coiling are far anterior. In most of the tongue projection modes bifurcation is relatively posterior, but in one, bifurcation is anterior, but coiling is relatively posterior in position. The most unusual condition is in Hydromantes, in which bifurcation is relatively posterior and a coiled ramus hypoglossus joins a coiled ramus lingualis to form a unique, coiled common ramus to the tongue tip. Hydromantes has the greatest projection distance of any salamander.

Notes: A study of ovarian structure in adult Alligator Lizards (Gerrhonotus coeruleus) was conducted by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Particular attention was directed to characterizing the ultrastructure of germ-line cells, prior to follicle formation. General ovarian structure in this lizard is similar to that of other lizards. The paired organs are hollow, thin-walled sacs containing follicles in roughly 3 to 4 size classes. Ovarian germinal tissue consists of oogonia (diploid cells which divide mitotically) and oocytes (meiotic cells), intermixed with ovarian surface epithelial cells. Germ cells reside in two dorsal patches of epithelium per ovary (germinal beds), as is common in lizards. Oogonia in interphase show a highly dispersed chromatin pattern. Within oogonia cytoplasm, Golgi complexes are scarce, rough endoplasmic reticulum is absent, and lipid droplets are rare. Ribosomes are scattered in small clusters. Small, round vesicles are common in all oogonia; glycogen-like granules are present in some. Mitochondria form a juxtanuclear mass within which groups of several mitochondria surround a dense granule. “Nuage” granules also are found unassociated with mitochondria. Oocytes are present in stages of meiotic prophase up to diplotene. Synaptinemal complexes are seen in several (pachytene) cells. The cytoplasm of oocytes differs from that of oogonia in that mitochondria do not form groups, and nuage and glycogen are absent, whereas small round vesicles and large irregular vesicles are common. The ultrastructural similarities in germ cells of a reptile as compared to those of other vertebrates strengthens the notion that germ-line cells possess (or lack) qualities related to the undifferentiated state of these cells.

Notes: The cochlear nuclear complex was investigated in snakes of the advanced family Colubridae and the primitive family Boidae. This study was undertaken in an attempt to correlate the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei with behavior and phylogeny and to elucidate the relative effects of these factors on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex. Fifty-five brains, of 14 colubrid species and three boid species, were examined to collect data on neuron diameter, neuron population, nuclear volume, and neuronal density of the cochlear nuclear complex and of its component nuclei (nucleus angularis and nucleus magnocellularis). Intraspecific and interspecific comparisons of the data were performed by nested analysis of variance. The species were grouped by cluster analysis and ranked on the basis of the morphometric parameters. Interspecific comparisons indicate that the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei is related, first, to prey preference and, second, to habitat preference. The most elaborate cochlear nuclei occur in species with a preference for vertebrate prey. Burrowing species that prey on vertebrates exhibit the highest degree of elaboration of the cochlear nuclei. In some burrowing species, the nucleus magnocellularis is differentiated into medial and lateral subdivisions. The primitive boid snakes show greater elaboration of the cochlear nuclei than do most of the advanced colubrid snakes. The elaboration of the cochlear nuclear complex in snakes seems to reflect the influence of both behavior and phylogeny. Further investigation of primitive snakes of varied behaviors is needed to establish more clearly the influence of phylogeny on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex.

Notes: Three pairs of specialized axons found in other muscoid flies are absent in the tsetse, Glossina morsitans, which also lacks the tergotrochanteral muscle. Neither light nor electron microscopy could demonstrate any evidence for the cervical giant fiber axon, the peripherally synapsing axon, or the tergotrochanteral motor axon. The specialized characteristics of these axons must have been altered during the evolution of Glossina. This divergence of individual neurons from the more typical muscoid pattern not only demonstrates the evolutionary modification of specific identified cells; it may also provide an opportunity to study the ontogenetic determination of unique neuronal features.

Notes: A light microscopic investigation of the histological development of the terminal airways of 18 Stenella attenuata and two S. longirostris showed the lungs to be in a glandular stage of development until 3 months postimplantation (p.i.) age. By 3.5 months (p.i.) the lung was at the canalicular stage. At 4 months mesenchymal rings and muscular bands were in a sphincterlike arrangement around terminal bronchioles. At 7 months (p.i.) the alveolar stage occured. About 8-9 months cartilaginous rings were present and in association with myoelastic sphincters. Their function remains an enigma, even though many hypotheses as to function have been proposed. We suggest that the presence of well-developed sphincters and cartilage in the neonate may give clues to their function as well as offer potential experiments that would not be as suitable in the adult porpoise.

Notes: The neurons of the trigeminal ganglia of the rat and chicken were characterized by means of light microscopic, electron microscopic, and histochemical methods. Light microscopy disclosed four types of neurons, based on the characteristics of Nissl granules: (1) large neurons with diffusely distributed and very fine granules, (2) neurons containing coarse and sparsely distributed Nissl granules, (3) neurons containing dense Nissl granules of varying size, and (4) small neurons with granules concentrated peripherally. Electron microscopy allowed further definition of these four types of neurons by the length and arrangement of flattened cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum (gER) and the number of neurofilaments. Type 1 cells were largest, with a mean nuclear area of 139.8 ± 28.3 μm2. Type 4 cells were smallest, with a mean nuclear area of 74.6 ± 20.9 μm2. The mean nuclear areas of type 2 and 3 cells were intermediate to those of the type 1 and 4 cells. Type 3 and 4 neurons lacked neurofilaments. Four forms of Golgi apparatus were found: (1) large bent grains forming a network throughout the soma, (2) dispersed fine granular deposits, (3) fine or small granules, and (4) coarse bent deposits arranged confluently in the perinuclear zone. In some rat neurons, the concentration of acid phosphatase reaction products suggested a high enzymatic activity, whereas the chicken ganglion cells showed no such concentration. These findings are discussed and compared with the classifications of previous studies.

Notes: The epidermis of the land planarian Bipalium adventitium was examined by light and electron microscopy. In all regions, the epidermis consists of a simple columnar ciliated epithelium associated with a prominent basement membrane. The epithelial cells, possessing abundant microvilli and poorly developed terminal webs, are conjoined laterally at their apical ends by septate junctions. The epidermis of the creeping sole is distinguished from that of adjoining regions by a “insunken” condition of the epithelial cells, a greater number of cilia per cell, and an absence of glandular secretions other than mucus. The insunken cells of the sole possess large glycogen disposits and attributes of metabolically active cells. Unusual intranuclear inclusions of unknown significance are also found in many of the epidermal cells in all regions. The basement membrane lacks distinct layering and consists of fine fibrils displaying a beaded appearance but no obvious cross-banding. Histochemical tests indicate that the fibrils are collagenous. In addition to mucus, secretory material found in nonsole regions includes lamellated granules and rhabdites, both stained intensely by acidic dyes. Rhabdites and the basement membrane also contain disulfide-enriched proteins. In scanning electron micrographs, the sole appears as a faint, longitudinally oriented band extending along the entire length of the animal. In all regions except the sensory border of the head, the microvilli are generally obscured by the densely arranged cilia. The sensory border consists of a row of toothlike papillae and grooves covered almost exclusively by microvilli, small club-shaped structures, and larger spherical protrusions.

Notes: Investigations of the structure and function of the flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR) in the cat have led to the hypothesis that the compartmentalized (nonuniform) distribution of fiber types within the muscle relate to the complex motor skills of the cat. To test this hypothesis a study was undertaken to compare the FCR in four mammalian species of similar body size but with different forelimb motor tasks. The species chosen were: dog, opossum, armadillo, and cat. Comparisons were made among species with regard to general muscle morphology, fiber types and sizes, fiber proportions, and fiber distriburtions. The FCR of all species was morphologically similar and contained three muscle fiber types (SO, FOG, and FG). The mean area of muscle fibers was largest in opossum, while the FCR fibers of dogs were smallest. The percentage of SO fibers in the dog FCR was greater than in the other species studied. The opossum FCR also contained a high percentage of SO fibers. The armadillo FCR consisted of a high percentage of FG fibers. In the cat FCR the percentages of all three fiber types were similar. For each species, individual fiber proportions were in agreement with the results for fiber percentages. Compartmentalized distribution of fiber types existed in each species with the dog having the most compartmentalized fiber type distribution and the cat the least compartmentalized distribution. Therefore it seems that the compartmentalized organization of the FCR is not related to any specialized motor task, but may be a generalized pattern associated with motor patterns shared among all species studied.

Notes: Tree shrews have relatively primitive tribosphenic molars that are apparently similar to those of basal eutherians; thus, these animals have been used as a model to describe mastication in early mammals. In this study the gross morphology of the bony skull, joints, dentition, and muscles of mastication are related to potential jaw movements and cuspal relationships. Potential for complex mandibular movements is indicated by a mobile mandibular symphysis, shallow mandibular fossa that is large compared to its resident condyle, and relatively loose temporomandibular joint ligaments. Abrasive tooth wear is noticeable, and is most marked at the first molars and buccal aspects of the upper cheek teeth distal to P2. Muscle morphology is basically similar to that previously described for Tupaia minor and Ptilocercus lowii. However, in T. glis, an intraorbital part of deep temporalis has the potential for inducing lingual translation of its dentary, and the large medial pterygoid has extended its origin anteriorly to the floor of the orbit, which would enhance protrusion. The importance of the tongue and hyoid muscles during mastication is suggested by broadly expanded anterior bellies of digastrics, which may assist mylohyoids in tensing the floor of the mouth during forceful tongue actions, and by preliminary electromyography, which suggests that masticatory muscles alone cannot fully account for jaw movements in this species.

Notes: Subungulate hyraces are similar to the condition assumed to have characterized primitive ungulates and subungulates by virtue of their small body size, relatively unspecialized cranial and postcranial anatomy, and primitive type of lophodont dentition. The muscles of mastication of Procavia habessinica and Heterohyrax brucei are here compared with those of other mammals, both with ungulates, as an example of more specialized mammals, and with opossums, as an example of more generalized mammals, to determine aspects of hyrax myology that represent the retention of a condition primitive for herbivorous mammals.The masticatory muscles of hyraces retain the primitive ungulate/subungulate condition in the large, complexly subdivided temporalis, and in the enlarged, pinnated, bilayered medial pterygoid. The medial pterygoid originates from the pterygoid hamulus, a condition that may also be primitive for this assemblage. The large complex superficial masseter is derived compared with the condition in ruminant artiodactyls, but may represent the condition primitive for perissodactyls. The architectural modifications of this muscle in hyraces may represent adaptations to allow a wide gape threat display.Hyraces possess a posterior belly of the digastric alone, paralleling the condition in some perissodactyls. They possess a large and complexly subdivided styloglossus, which may be a shared derived character of subungulates. Hyraces are unique among ungulates and subungulates in the extreme reduction of the anterior hyoid cornua, and may be unique among mammals in the development of paired lingual processes from the ceratohyal ossifications.

Notes: The inner ears of a few fishes in the teleost superorder Ostariophysi are structurally unlike those of most other teleosts. Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine if other ostariophysans share these unusual features. Examined were the families Cyprinidae, Characidae, and Gymnotidae (all of the series Otophysi), and Chanidae (of the sister series Anotophysi), representing the four major ostariophysan lineages, the auditory organs of which have not yet been well described. Among the Otophysi, the saccular and lagenar otolith organs are similar to those reported for other ostariophysans. The lagena is generally the larger of the two organs. The saccular sensory epithelium (macula) contains long ciliary bundles on the sensory hair cells in the caudal region, and short bundles in the rostral region. The saccule and the lagena each have hair cells organized into two groups having opposing directional orientations. In contrast, Chanos, the anotophysan, has a saccular otolith larger than the lagenar otolith, and ciliary bundles that are more uniform in size over most of its saccular macula. Most strikingly, its saccular macula has hair cells organized into groups oriented in four directions instead of two, in a pattern very similar to that in many nonostariophysan teleosts. We suggest that the bi-directional pattern seen consistently in the Otophysi is a derived development related to particular auditory capabilities of these species.

Notes: Discrete and multiple cytoplasmic regions become apparent during oogenesis in the dragonfly oocyte that are thought to arise from the nucleus (nucleolus) earlier in development, and on the basis of previous cytochemical tests, they are believed to contain ribonucleoprotein. These distinct cytoplasmic regions have been called fibrogranular bodies since they are composed of (1) a multitude of small granules ( ∼ 6-16 nm) and (2) interconnected fibrillar elements ( ∼ 2-4 nm wide). Since the fibrogranular bodies have not been isolated, they have not been biochemically characterized and their composition is unknown. However, it has been suggested that this material, in part based on other studies, may represent stored developmental information, perhaps including mRNA, rRNA, and protein. Prior to vitellogenesis, but continuing throughout the process, annulate lamellae progressively differentiate within the fibrogranular bodies. After annulate lamellae have differentiated inside the fibrogranular bodies, many of the lamellae extend into the surrounding cytoplasm as elements of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER). There appears to be a gradual dispersal of material as more and more annulate lamellae form within the fibrogranular bodies such that very late in oogenesis, it is difficult to observe the fibrogranular material. However, extensive numbers of polyribosomes and many parallel lamellae of rER are present. The variations noted with respect to the polyribosomes, fibrogranular bodies, and pores of the annulate lamellae suggest that pores of annulate lamellae are important in the processing or activation of “stored information” for subsequent development, perhaps including a role in polyribosomal assembly.

Notes: Adult female white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, were exposed to long (LP) or short (SP) photoperiods for 6 weeks (experiment I). Another group of animals was kept for 6 weeks in SP, then injected SC with 30 μg prolactin twice daily for 2, 3, 4, or 6 days (experiment II). Ovaries from the mice in both experiments were weighed and serially sectioned for light microscopic examination of regressing corpora lutea. In experiment I, it was observed that vessels supporting corpora lutea were dilated, and that their endothelium was either undergoing necrosis or it was missing. Pronounced changes of luteal capillaries led to rupture and intraluteal hemorrhage, thus opening the capillary bed. Regressing luteal cells became segregated and seemed to invade the vascular system passively. They were seen as luteal cell thrombi in medullary veins. This luteolytic course termed “rapid luteolysis” was most apparent in SP ovaries. It differed from “retarded luteolysis,” which represents the well-established luteolytic model of auto- and heterophagocytosis. In experiment II, there was a statistically significant decrease in ovarian weight 4 days after prolactin treatment in comparison with saline-treated controls. At the light microscopic level, signs of both rapid and retarded luteolysis were present, but not intensified. It is concluded: (1) The concept of rapid luteolysis represents a reasonable working hypothesis. (2) Prolactin, though luteolytic at the macroscopic level, failed to produce evidence of increased rapid or retarded luteolysis at the light microscopic level.

Notes: This report is a comprehensive fine structural analysis of the morphological changes occurring during metamorphosis of the marine hydrozoan Mitrocomella polydiademata. Five stages are recognized during metamorphosis: planulae just prior to settlement, ball and filiform stages, immature polyps, and primary feeding polyps. Settlement and metamorphosis of cnidarian planulae involve such changes as ciliary arrest, discharge of nematocytes, secretion of glandular cells, differentiation of cells, and changes in cell and body shape.

Notes: Both structural and functional changes are observed within the posterior caeca (PC) of Orchestia during the molt cycle. During the intermolt period, there are two segments which are structurally different: a distal segment lined by type I epithelial cells and a proximal segment lined by type II cells. During molting, the PC cells are active in calcium turnover. Calcium is secreted and stored as calcareous concretions in the caecal lumen during the preexuvial period; then during the postexuvial period it is reabsorbed to mineralize the new cuticle. During the preexuvial period, cellular type III differentiates along the whole length of the PC in poster-anterior sequence and functions in ionic calcium secretion, from the basal part to the cellular apex. During the postexuvial period, this cellular type turns into cellular type IV engaged in calcium reabsorption from successive generations of spherites, from the cellular apex to the basal part.The role played by the caecal epithelium during both formation and reabsorption of the concretions was investigated by experiments in which caeca were transplanted to host pericardial cavities or were blocked by causing an abdominal hernia. The main structural characteristic features of cellular type III are as follows: an extracellular network of channels extends from basal to apical ends; microvilli are long and often apically dilated; multivacuolar complexes are localized in extracellular channels and within dilated tips of microvilli before secretion into caecum lumen; bundles of microtubules are oriented in parallel around the luminal orifices of the extracellular network; ribosomes are abundant in cytoplasm. Cellular type III develops progressively from the distal end of the caecum to the proximal one as the preexuvial period advances and concretions form in the caecum lumen.

Notes: The relationships between the size of the articular surface of the mandibular condyle and masticatory muscle size, tooth size, diet, and biomechanical variables associated with mastication were studied by taking 12 measurements on skulls of 253 adult female anthropoid primates, including three to ten specimens from each of 32 species.In regressions of condylar length, width, or area against body weight, logarithmic transformations substantially improve the fit of the equations compared with untransformed data. There is a strong relationship betwden condylar measurements and body weight, with all correlations being .94 or higher. The slopes of the allometric regressions of length, width, and area of the condylar head indicate slight positive allometry with body size.Folivorous primates have smaller condyles than frugivorous primates, and colobines have smaller condyles than cebids, cercopithecines, or hominoids. When colobines are eliminated, the differences between frugivores and folivores are not significant. However, the two species with the relatively largest condyles are Pongo pygmaeus and Cercocebus torquatus, suggesting that there may be a relationship between unusually large condylar dimensions and the ability to crak hard nuts between the teeth.Cranial features having strong positive correlations with condylar dimensions include facial prognathism, maxillary incisor size, maxillar postcanine area, mandibular ramus breadth, and temporal fossa area. These data are interpreted as indicating that relatively large condyles are associated with relatively large masticatory muscles, relatively inefficient mandibular biomechanics, and a large dentition. These relationships support the growing evidence that the temporomandibular joint is a stress-bearing joint in normal function.

Notes: The rapid morphogenetic movements that internalize the transitory larval epithelium and reorient the presumptive adult epidermis during the metamorphosis of the cellularioid cheilostome bryozoan, Bugula neritina, have been examined by light and electron microscopy and analyzed by experimentation with cytochalasin B (CB) and MgC12. The pallial epithelium is gradually drawn out over the aboral hemisphere as the larval ciliated epithelium (the corona and the pyriform organ) involutes. At the end of coronal involution the oral margin of the pallial epithelium constricts and the aboral hemisphere is pulled down against the everted sac. Ultrastructural and experimental evidence indicates that an equatorial contractile ring composed of a temporal alignment of CB-sensitive 5.5 nm microfilaments is responsible for the constriction of the oral margin of the pallial epithelium. This morphogenetic movement, in conjunction with the compression of the aboral hemisphere, juxtaposes the pallial epithelium with the oral epithelium of the everted sac. The pallial epithelium adheres to the neck and wall regions of the everted sac and begins a progressive contraction at its aboral margin, pulling the wall epithelium up over the aboral hemisphere. Ultrastructural examination reveals that the pallial cells contain apical bands of microfilaments and associated vesicles at this stage of metamorphosis. The position and time of appearance of the microfilaments in the pallial epithelium support the hypothesis that they generate the force for wall elevation. Histological and experimental data indicate that the compression of the aboral hemisphere at the umbrella stage and the final retraction of the apical disc are muscle-mediated morphogenetic movements. The constriction of the umbrellar margin and the elevation of the wall epithelium, on the other hand, appear to be caused by two distinct populations of microfilaments that assemble in different regions of the pallial epithelium at specific times during metamorphosis.

Notes: The different elements of the caudal skeleton of the South American catfish genera Nematogenys (Nematogenyinae) and Trichomycterus, Hatcheria, and Bullockia (Pygidiinae) (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) show Ontogenetic transformation of the second ural centrum in Trichomycteridae separates the subfamilies Nematogenyinae and Pygidiinae. In the former, the second ural centrum is aligned with the first ural centrum in early stages of ontogeny; it is not fused with the bases of hypurals 3 and 4 in any stage of development. In the Pygidiinae, in contrast, the second ural centrum is connected with the base of hypural 3 from an early stage of development on. One of the most noteworthy features of the Pygidiinae is the epural, a polymorphic element with three or four morphotypes that are species specific.The primitive catfish Nematogenys shows intraspecific variation in the ural centra, segmentation of procurrent caudal rays, and principal caudal ray formulae. Species of Trichomycterus, Hatcheria, and Bullockia are characterized by great intraspecific variability that involves ural centra, the epural, hypurapophyses, and the neural arches of the compound centrum. There is intraspecific variation in the fusion of the hypurals in some species of Trichomycterus.Intraspecific variation of the caudal skeleton of fishes of the family Trichomycteridae involves the presence and frequency of different morphotypes of the epural, neural arch of the compound centrum, fusion of hypurals, and principal caudal ray formulae. Ontogenetic changes of the first and second ural centra, hypurapophyses (with the exception of Nematogenys), and segmentation of procurrent caudal rays (in Nematogenys) are involved also.

Notes: Examination of the topographical anatomy of the stomach complex and intestinal tract of an adult male and a newborn female pigmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) shows that the stomach consists of four chambers, the first three constituting the proventriculus and the fourth the glandular stomach. The proventriculus is made up of a visceral and parietal blind sac opening into a connecting chamber, which in turn opens into the glandular compartment. The walls of the proventricular chambers are covered with villi and non-glandular mucous membrane. The significant difference between the animals is that whereas the connecting chamber of the adult stomach lies transversely deep in the cranial part of the abdomen and connects with the glandular chamber on the right side, that of the newborn lies almost vertically and connects ventrally with the glandular compartment situated on the floor of the abdomen. A groove which in the adult runs more or less horizontally from the cardia through the visceral sac and connecting chambers is aligned almost vertically in the newborn. In the adult the connecting chamber is the largest compartment, but in the neonate the visceral blind sac and the glandular compartment are proportionally larger. Functional aspects of these anatomical differences are discussed in relation to suckling behavior.The intestine consists of a continous tube. There is no caecum; instead the junction between small and large intestine is distinguished by an increase in diameter, a change in epithelial lining, and anastomoses of the jejunal and colic arteries. Large amounts of fat are present in the omentum and mesentery of the neonate.

Notes: The cell contacts between follicle cells, and follicle cells and oocytes of egg-laying populations of Helisoma duryi and non-egg-laying populations of H. trivcolvis have been studied. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that four to six follicle cells envelop a single developing oocyte. Thin sections and lanthanum impregnations demonstrate apical zonulae adherentes followed by winding pleated-type septate junctions between follicle cells. Gap junctions and septate junctions have been found between follicle cells and vitellogenic oocytes. Freeze-fracture replicas show relatively wide sinuous rows of septate junctional particles, and nemerous large gap junctional particle aggregates on the P-face between vitellogenic oocytes and follicle cells. Septate and gap junctions between immature or nonvitellogenic oocytes and follicle cells are fewer compared to those in vitellogenic oocytes. Similarly, the junctional complexes are less developed in non-egg-laying H. trivolvis compared to those in egg-laying H. duryi. It is possible that intimate interaction between follicle cells and a developing oocyte is necessary for the maturation of the oocyte. The junctional complexes could be involved in the interaction of the follicle cells and the oocyte, and they must disassemble at the onset of ovulation. Rhombic particle arrays and nonjunctional ridges of particles have been found in the basal part of the oolemma.

Notes: Rickettsiae-like structures were found in the salivary gland cells of Drosophila auraria during different larval and prepupal developmental stages, from the early 3rd instar up to 14 hr after spiracle inversion. These microorganisms are surrounded by a membrane, are constantly intracellular, and occur singly or in groups. Their widespread occurrence in various tissues of other Drosophila species indicates that they can be considered as symbionts, but their actual functional significance (if any) is unknown.

Notes: Histology of each of the five segments of the oviduct of the female turtle Chrysemys picta was described for successive intervals throughout their annual cycle. Uterine and glandular segments showed marked seasonal variations in the extent and content of the submucosal and epithelial glands. Submucosal glands were most prominent in preovulatory and postovulatory animals (May to June), regressing in late summer (oviposited animals) and recrudescing the following spring. These changes correlated with variations in the muscularis layer, the number of uterine epithelial blebs, oviductal vascularity, and the presence of eosinophils in cervical segment cross-sections. These cyclic seasonal changes are discussed in relationship to reported seasonal changes in gonadal steroids in this species. Hormonal control was corroborated by oviductal response to estradiol-17β injected (1 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks) into mature, reproductively inactive (winter) animals. This treatment induced increases in glandular activity, vascularity, and distribution of eosinophils comparable to those of reproductively active (summer) animals.

Notes: Molluscan shells, including those of Gastropoda, are formed by accretionary growth at the mantle edge. The mantle is a thin membrane of skirt-like shape, which extends minutely beyond the aperture, and its edge adds a shell increment to the aperture margin so that each increment copies a configuration of the mantle edge at that time. Thus, regulation of shell morphogeny is almost equivalent to the factors which control the mantle form at the moment of shell growth. Form of the mantle skirt is considered to be kept in a state of balance between the force of its internal stress and forces acting on it such as fluid pressure or muscle contraction.The expansion behavior of the mantle skirt has been numerically analyzed by using an elastic model (DMS-tube), which represents the fundamental structure of the mantle tissue as a double membrane structure with internal springs (DMS). Four characteristic expansion patterns of the DMS-tube have been detected: (1) general outward expansion; (2) developing a ridge-like fold on an initial longitudinal protrusion of the tube edge; (3) drastic shift of the expanded state from a uniformly curved to an elliptical shape in outline, owing to the existence of a fixed boundary condition on the tube wall; and (4) constricted protrusion on the open region of the shell wall surrounding the DMS-tube. These results have the potential for answering the following questions relating to the morphogenesis of gastropod shells. How does the mantle skirt usually make contact with the inner surface of the shell wall so as to ensure continuous accretion of shell materials to the aperture margin? What is the cause of spiral ridges? Why do open coiling or minimally overlapping shells have generally circular apertures, while shells with apertures overlapped by whorls have non-uniformly curved apertural lips? What is the cause of long closed spines and why do they always appear on spiral ridges?

Notes: The larval antenna of Bombyx mori has 13 sensilla and about 52 sensory neurons in its distal portion. The axons form two nerve cords which unite in the cranial hemocoel to supply the brain as the olfactory nerve. The antennal imaginal disc, which is a thick pseudostratified epithelium continuous with the antennal epidermis, thickens markedly during the 5th instar by rapid cell proliferation. At the prepupal stage cell proliferation ceases and the disc everts to form a large pupal antenna. Simultaneously, an extensive cell rearrangement occurs in the antennal epidermis and the disc tissue becomes much thinner because of the abrupt expansion of antennal surface area. The two larval nerve cords thin down markedly by degeneration of axons, but they do not disintegrate totally even after the onset of pupation. The epidermis of the larval antenna forms the distal portion of the pupal antenna, while the imaginal disc forms the more basal portion. Development to the adult antenna occurs almost immediately after the onset of pupation; many adult neurons appear in the simple epidermis facing toward the thick outer side of the newly formed pupal cuticle. By 12 hours after the onset of pupation, these neurons align themselves in many transverse rows which are the first sign of the adult antennal configuration. Addition of these neuronal axons to the once-thinned nerve cords causes resumed thickening of the cords during the first 24 hours and thereafter. Differentiation of adult sensilla begins in the next 24 hours and is almost completed at the third day of pupation, which requires a total of 10 days.

Notes: Sensilla diversity and abundance were extremely high on the apex of the maxillary and labial palpi of two species of Gryllacrididae. The terminal segment of the maxillary palpi of these species had 9 and 15 sensilla types, respectively, and up to 2,834 sensilla. The labial palpi had 7 and 12 types, respectively, and up to 5,195 sensilla. Several types of multiporous smooth and ridged olfactory basiconic sensilla, and coeloconic, coelosphaeric, placoid, and multipapilliform sensilla occurred, as well as many trichoid sensilla and the more typical uniporous basiconic contact receptors. Two species of the closely related Stenopelmatidae were compared to the gryllacridids and found to have similar sensillar diversity and abundance, but three species of the more distantly related Tettigoniidae had only 4 or 5 sensilla types and a total number ranging from 320 to 960 on their maxillary palpi.

Notes: The results of volumetric measurements led Hanström ('28) to suggest that specialized neuropil in the brain, the so-called central body (CB), may be of particular importance in the nervous control of web building behavior in spiders. We compared the volumes of the various brain regions in four spider species clearly differing in lifestyle and web building behavior: an orb weaver (Nephila clavipes), a wandering spider (Cupiennius salei), a jumping spider (Phidippus regius), and a bird spider (Ephebopus sp.). Our results obtained in adult animals as well as our observations on the postembryonic development of the brain do not support Hanström's hypothesis. The relative share of the CB in the brain is very similar in all four species (ca. 3.1 to 5.1%). The differentiation of the CB into a clearly demarcated two-lobed structure does not coincide with the onset of web building behavior in Nephila. The CB of both Nephila and Cupiennius is already clearly recognizable in spiderlings which have not even left the egg sac.

Notes: The venom gland of Crotalus viridis oreganus is composed of two discrete secretory regions: a small anterior portion, the accessory gland, and a much larger main gland. These two glands are joined by a short primary duct consisting of simple columnar secretory cells and basal horizontal cells. The main gland has at least four morphologically distinct cell types: secretory cells, the dominant cell of the gland, mitochondria-rich cells, horizontal cells, and “dark” cells. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the mitochondria-rich cells are recessed into pits of varying depth; these cells do not secrete. Horizontal cells may serve as secretory stem cells, and “dark” cells may be myoepithelial cells. The accessory gland contains at least six distinct cell types: mucosecretory cells with large mucous granules, mitochondria-rich cells with apical vesicles, mitochondria-rich cells with electron-dense secretory granules, mitochondria-rich cells with numerous cilia, horizontal cells, and “dark” cells. Mitochondria-rich cells with apical vesicles or cilia cover much of the apical surface of mucosecretory cells and these three cell types are found in the anterior distal tubules of the accessory gland. The posterior regions of the accessory gland lack mucosecretory cells and do not appear to secrete. Ciliated cells have not been noted previously in snake venom glands.Release of secretory products (venom) into the lumen of the main gland is by exocytosis of granules and by release of intact membrane-bound vesicles. Following venom extraction, main gland secretory and mitochondria-rich cells increase in height, and protein synthesis (as suggested by rough endoplasmic reticulum proliferation) increases dramatically. No new cell types or alterations in morphology were noted among glands taken from either adult or juvenile snakes, even though the venom of each is quite distinct. In general, the glands of C. v. oreganus share structural similarities with those of crotalids and viperids previously described.

Notes: The organization of identified neurosecretory cell groups in the larval brain of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, was investigated immunocytologically. Computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction was used to examine the architecture of the neurosecretory cell groups. The group III lateral neurosecretory cells (L-NSC III) which produce the prothoracicotropic hormone are located dorsolaterally in the protocerebrum and extend axons medially that decussate to the contralateral lobe prior to exiting the brain through the nervi corporis cardiaci I + II. The group IIa2 medial neurosecretory cells (M-NSC IIa2) are located anteriorly in the medial dorsal protocerebrum. The axons of these cells also exit the brain via the contralateral nervi corporis cardiaci I + II. However, their axons traverse a different pathway through the brain from that of the L-NSC III axons. Each of the cell groups possesses elaborate dendrites with terminal varicosities. The dendrites can be classified into specific fields based upon their location and projection pattern within the brain. The dendrites for these two neurosecretory cell groups overlap in specific regions of the protocerebral neuropil. After the axons of these neurosecretory cells exit the brain through the retrocerebral nerve, they innervate the corpus allatum where they arborize to form neurohemal terminals in strikingly different patterns. The L-NSC III penetrate throughout the glandular structure and the M-NSC IIa2 terminals are restricted to the external sheath. A third group of cerebral neurosecretory cells, the ventromedial neurons (VM) which stain with the monoclonal antibody to prothoracicotropic hormone in Manduca, are located anteriorly in the medial region of the brain. The axons of these cells do not exit the brain to the retrocerebral complex, but rather pass through the circumesophageal connectives and ventral nerve cord. These neurons appear to be the same VM neurons that produce eclosion hormone. One dendritic field of the L-NSC III terminates in close apposition to the VM neurons. The distinct morphologies of these neurosecretory cell groups in relation to other cell groups and the distribution of neuropeptides within the neurons suggest that insect neurosecretory cells, like their vertebrate counterparts, may have multiple regulatory roles.

Notes: The micropylar apparatus (MA) in Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera, Tephritidae) is located at the anterior pole of the egg and consists of two parts: an outer chorion and an inner vitelline membrane. Sperm entry takes place through the micropylar canal, 2.0-2.5 μm in diameter, which penetrates the micropylar endochorion and terminates in the thick vitelline membrane, thus forming the “pocket.” The pore of the micropylar canal, i.e., the micropyle, is covered by the exochorionic tuft.The formation of the MA is accomplished by 40 micropylar cells during oogenesis. These cells secrete the successive eggshell layers: the vitelline membrane, the wax layer, the innermost chorionic layer, the micropylar endochorion, and the exochorion. Two among 40 micropylar cells differentiate and form two tightly connected projections. The latter contain a bundle of parallel microtubules and participate in the formation of the micropylar canal and the pocket. At the tip of the projections there are two thin extensions full of microfilaments. In late developmental stages the two projections and the extensions degenerate and leave the canal and the pocket behind. We also discuss the structural features of the MA in relation to its physiology among Diptera.

Notes: It is uncommon to find acid phosphatase activity in mature secretory granules. This paper demonstrates by light and electron microscope cytochemistry an acid phosphatase in mature secretory granules in the cells of one region of the salivary gland of Bradysia hygida (Diptera, Sciaridae). These secretory granules increase in number during larval development up to the beginning of the pre-pupal period when they undergo massive exocytosis. Biochemical assays show that upon exocytosis of the majority of the granules the total acid phosphatase activity in the granular gland region drops to 10% of the maximum reached before exocytosis. During and after exocytosis, two other acid phosphatases, eletrophoretically different and much weaker in activity, become increasingly detectable in all gland regions. At the same time, in whole mount preparations, numerous tiny acid phosphatase-positive granules (probably secondary lysosomes) become evident in all major cell types of the salivary gland. These results indicate that the S2 region of the salivary gland has mature secretory granules containing an acid phosphatase destined for exocytosis which is different in molecular properties from other acid phosphatases (likely lysosomal) made by the gland.

Notes: The general histology and ultrastructure of the tongue and anterior process of the sublingual plica of four Taiwanese venomous snakes, the Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra), banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus), Taiwan habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus), and bamboo snake (Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri) are described.The tongue fork exhibits a mid-dorsal invagination that broadens gradually toward its base. No mid-ventral invagination is observed. The epithelial cells on both dorsal and ventral aspects of the tongue fork have large and small microfacets, micropores and microvilli. The cell size, distribution pattern of the large microfacets, and the number of small microfacets present on both sides of the fork are essentially the same within a species, but vary among species. The function of these ultrastructures on the cell surface might be for the capture of chemical substances. The large microfacets are raised areas of the cell membrane, each with a pale granule contained within. The chemical nature of the pale granule is not yet known. The small pores surrounding the large microfacets are shallow hollows left after the release of the pale granules from the microfacets. The basic histological pattern of the tongue fork of these species is similar, being composed of a mucosal layer outside and dense musculature inside. No taste buds are discernible.The anterior processes are concave-like expansions of the anteriormost portions of the sublingual plicae. The oblique folds and micropapillae of this organ might be helpful for receiving the chemicals collected on the tongue, when the tongue makes contact with the elevated processes. The elevated processes may penetrate the ducts of Jacobson's organs to effect the final transfer.

Notes: The scaleless notothenioid Gymnodraco acuticeps is a bottom dweller beneath the sea ice of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Gymnodraco experience unusual environmental conditions, including highly oxygenated subzero water. Skin morphology is evaluated with reference to its potential as a barrier to ice propagation and as a surface for cutaneous respiration. Light and electron microscopy and histochemistry reveal skin structure that is generally similar to that of other teleosts. In the epidermis, epithelial cells are arranged in nine to fifteen layers, and two types of mucous cells are also present. Large mucous cells are most common on external epidermal surfaces, whereas small cells are more frequent on internal epithelial surfaces. Epithelial cell junctions have extensive areas of desmosomes as well as interdigitations of the cell membranes, especially in the basal and midepidermis. The dermis consists of an exceptionally dense stratum compactum. The skin is thicker than that of Bovichtus, a scaleless temperate notothenioid from New Zealand. Mean skin thicknesses at sites on the trunk are 371-711 μm. With the exception of fins that contact the substrate, epidermal thickness between rays of most fins is 70-118 μm. The epithelial surfaces of the oral and branchial cavities are 27-50 μm thick. An unusual type of connective tissue is present beneath the epidermis of the pelvic fin. It contains abundant ground substance and is similar to mucous connective tissue of the mammalian umbilical cord. Perfusions of a microvascular filling agent reveal a moderately developed cutaneous vasculature. These vessels have the dimensions of capillaries (mean external diameter 11 μm). They are confined to the dermis and are more prominent on the head than on the trunk. The skin is secondary to the gills as a respiratory surface in Gymnodraco.

Notes: To determine the separate spermatogenic actions of FSH and testosterone, adult male lizards Hemidactylus flaviviridis with recrudescent testes were administered the non-steroidal antiandrogen flutamide either alone or in combination with FSH or testosterone, and the histology and histochemistry of the testes and ductus epididymides were studied. Flutamide-treated animals displayed a marked hypertrophy of Leydig cells. A few spermatids were also seen in testis of more than half the animals treated with flutamide. Flutamide also produced a significant increase of primary spermatocytes; no spermatids were observed in controls. A significant inhibition of spermatogenesis was noted in lizards treated either with testosterone alone or in combination with flutamide. Ovine FSH treatment caused a significant stimulation of spermatogenesis, as indicated by the increase of primary and secondary spermatocytes and the transformation of secondary spermatocytes into spermatids or, in a few cases, into spermatozoa. A considerable depletion of sudanophilic lipid and moderate Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was noted in the Leydig cells of FSH-treated animals indicating enhanced steroidogenesis. Similar results were obtained when lizards were treated with flutamide + FSH. The effects of simultaneous treatment of flutamide with FSH or testosterone on ductus epididymidis revealed that flutamide markedly inhibited the epithelial cell height and lumen diameter with a loss of luminal content when compared to FSH or testosterone-treated lizards.