ALBERT

Notizen: The skin of Bagarius bagarius (Ham.) is devoid of scales but is rough due to the presence of numerous pentagonal epidermal elevations, which are separated by deep furrows at regular intervals. These elevated pentagonal regions of the epidermis are covered by dead cornified cells in the form of caps. As the old cap goes off a new one is formed by the death of the underlying epidermal cells. The middle layer of the epidermis is mainly composed of well defined polygonal cells. Their cytoplasm is granular in nature and give reactions for protein bound sulphydryl groups. The stratum germinativum is composed of two types of basal cells, the columnar cells and the spherical cells.The flask shaped mucous glands are restricted to the epidermal furrows and secrete either neutral or acidic mucopolysaccharides. Certain large specialysed granular cells are found in the epidermis which are grouped around the taste buds. These specialysed cells may be the photocytes.Two layers of the dermis can be distinguished - the relatively thin stratum laxum and the thick stratum compactum. Dermal papillae mainly support the taste buds. The pigment cells are arranged in two layers in the dermis.The subcutis is composed of loose connective tissues, richly infiltrated with the fat cells, nerves and blood capillaries.

Notizen: Electron microscope studies on Tylocephalum metacestodes embedded in the tissues of the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, have revealed that the tegument of the larval tapeworm is comprised of an external and an internal level which are partially separated by a basal lamina and two layers of muscles. The outer tegumentary level is comprised of an anucleate, cytoplasmic syncytium in which are embedded large and small vesicles and mitochondria. Surfacial hooks are also embedded therein. The internal level is comprised of relatively large discrete cells including mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and large and small vesicles. These cells are intermittently connected with the external level by cytoplasmic bridges.Arising from the external level are unusual microvilli each of which terminates as a spherical vesicle. The stem of each microvillus is covered by a unit membrane which is continuous with that overlaying the body surface. In addition, each microvillus includes an external layer of medium electron density, a medial layer of intense electron density, and a core of heterogenous, medium electron density. These structures may be intertwined and bundles can be observed at the light microscope level as fibril-like projections from the parasite's body surface. One of their possible functions may be to prevent intimate contact between the encapsulating fibers of host origin and the parasite's body surface. In addition, the contraction and distention of the circular muscles result in microvillar movement which may keep the surrounding host fluids, including those of nutritional importance to the parasite, in a state of flux thus hypothetically permitting more uniform uptake.The abundance of vesicles in the syncytial external level of the tegument appears to be characteristic of the more primitive marine cestodes belonging to the orders Trypanorhyncha and Lecanicephala.

Notizen: Sequential patterns of cuticle deposition and “melanization” in the imaginal cuticle of Sarcophaga argyrostoma in parts of the body darkening before or after emergence are examined on a histological basis. The patterns in the cuticles examined range from a simple absence of “melanization” to a complex of histological changes involving “melanization” and deposition. Ultrastructural changes in the post-emergent cuticle of Sarcophaga bullata during the hardening and darkening process and cuticle deposition are described.

Notizen: Morphological study of Corynosoma hamanni (Linstow, 1892) was continued with the intention of presenting a morphological description of a single, well defined species.Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in body size, males being larger, and in body spination. Trunk spines are arranged in a pattern similar to that of Corynosoma semerme and do not extend onto the bursa as reported in the original description of C. hamanni.Two testes, located side by side, are followed by six cement glands arranged in two groups of three glands each. One group is behind each testis. Cement ducts from glands on the right side cross over Saefftigen's pouch and join to form a reservoir on the left side; ducts from cement glands on the left side fuse forming a second reservoir. The two cement reservoirs unite before emptying into the ejaculatory duct. The bursa possesses rays on its outer wall and numerous, well-developed papillae in the muscular cap.In females, a ruptured genital ligament sac is attached partially on the dorsal wall of the uterine bell and partially on a column of six cells projecting from the bell's base into its lumen. Postericrly the dorsal wall of the bell has two protruding pockets behind which occur ten cells composing the selector apparatus. Dorsal openings into the pseudocoelom occur on either side of the uterine bell. Two muscular tubes conduct eggs into the uterus. Female C. hamanni frequently form genital vestibules in which the genital pore occurs along the dorsal wall and not, as reported for some species, at the anterior tip.Eggs of C. hamanni possess four membranes rather than the previously reported three.

Notizen: A seasonal study of the seminal vesicles in relation to that of the testes had been conducted in the catfish, H. fossilis. The annual reproductive cycle of the catfish has been divided into (i) Preparatory period (February-April), (ii) Prespawning period (May-June), (iii) Spawning period (July-August) and (iv) Postspawning period (September-January). Testes exhibit initiation of spermatogenesis in the mid-preparatory period, but significant increase in weight of the testes accompanied by active spermatogenesis occurs during the prespawning period. In the spawning period, the testes are maximally enlarged and their seminiferous tubules are packed with spermatozoa. Following spawning, the testes gradually regress in the postspawning period. The seminal vesicles show initiation of secretory activity during the preparatory period but their recrudescence lags behind that of the testes by about a month. The seminal vesicles attain maximum weight and secretory activity during the spawning period. Thereafter, the seminal vesicles regress precipitously and sooner than the testes.The histochemical and biochemical studies on the seminal vesicles indicate that the secretion contains mucoproteins, acid mucopolysaccharides, primary proteoses, besides traces of phospholipids and native proteins.

Notizen: During cleavage of honeybee eggs two peaks arise in the longitudinal distribution pattern of the periplasm which coincide with the site of the differentiation center and the site of a mesodermal center. A very similar pattern is exhibited by the dorsal plasmstrip, a narrow band of thicker periplasm which is formed during cleavage along the dorsal midline of the egg. The present paper describes the development of the dorsal plasmstrips of two inbred strains of honeybees during early cleavage stages. Differences between the two strains reside in the total size of their dorsal plasmstrips and in the timing of the formation of the anterior peak which coincides with the site of the differentiation center. The bearing of these findings upon embryological studies is discussed.

Notizen: The “cuticle,” which revests the starfish tube foot, has been studied by electron microscopy and the findings correlated with histochemical observations.The “cuticle” is composed by two distinct zones; an outer zone including numerous microvilli, which extend from the inner zone into and through a fibrillar substance distinctly organized in two layers. These microvilli protrude slightly beyond the outer surface, where their tips give rise tonumerous extremely delicate fibrils. The second inner zone, of quite variable thickness and condensation of material, presents a coarser fibrous matrix where organelles and inclusions can be found.The whole cuticular complex does not derive from the majority of the epithelial cells, but is probably an extension of a special kind of T-shaped cells appearing at intervals, the “cuticle” forming a syncytial surface.Histochemical investigations indicate that the “cuticle” contains a combination of neutral and acid mucopolysaccharide, with a marked neutral predominance, the outer one displaying also an extremely thin coat of acid mucopolysaccharide with the sulfate group.The ordered arrangement of the microvilli suggests that this situation is imposed by the strong bond existing between the microvilli and the ouble mucopolysaccharide layers which would act as a cementing substance stabilizing the entire apical surface of the cell.

Notizen: The length of the oviduct, the thickness of its wall, and the height of its mucosal epithelium and cilia were measured in (a) 0-, 2-, 4- and six-month-old rabbits, (b) rabbits ovariectomized at birth and (c) ovariectomized, estrogen-treated rabbits. The length and external diameter of the oviduct increased progressively until four months of age, after which their rates of increase declined. The thickness of the oviductal wall at the uterotubal junction was twice as large as that of the isthmus at two months of age and six times as large at four and six months of age. The height of the mucosal epithelium in the fimbriae was less than that in other oviductal segments at birth, but exceeded that in other segments at six months of age. Ciliated cells and motile cilia were absent 24 hours after birth; they were first observed two months after birth. The cilia of fimbriae were shorter than cilia elsewhere in the oviduct. Neonatal ovariectomy retarded the development of the oviduct and the mesotubarium and caused pyknosis of ciliated and non-ciliated cells of the oviductal mucosa. Cells with scarcely motile cilia were present five and one-half months after neonatal ovariectomy.

Notizen: The epidermis of 146 specimens of Dipsosaurus dorsalis and 182 Uma notata collected throughout the active period of the animals' year has been examined. The morphology of the epidermis is essentially similar to previously described lacertilians but differs in the relatively great degree of development of the mesos layer and the complete keratinization of the lacunar tissue prior to sloughing.Analysis of sloughing frequency throughout the year suggests that species specific patterns may exist, but these do not correlate with any particular known ecologic datum. The patterns do not reflect the reproductive activity of the two species supporting previous experimental conclusions on the lack of effect of gonadial hormones on epidermal activity.There appears to be no evidence of association of femoral gland activity with epidermal activity in D. dorsalis, but the situation is not clearcut in U. notata. These data are discussed in the light of recent studies of the evolutionary origin of epidermal glands in lizards.

Notizen: The structural changes of mitochondria that occur during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in the rabbit have been examined with the electron microscope. Mitochondria of oogonia are both elongate and oval and contain a variable number of cristae which may or may not traverse the longitudinal axis of the organelle. When oogonia differentiate into oocytes, mitochondria become spheroidal and their cristae are sparse when compared with those found in the ellipsoidal organelles of concomitantly maturing follicle cells. As differentiation proceeds, the cristae of the mitochondria display varied configurations. For example, many display an arch-like arrangement in several regions of the organelle whereas others contain a pair of concentric membranes closely associated with limiting membrane of the mitochondrion.Mitochondria of stages from the fertilized egg to the morula possess the same internal structure as those of young oocytes. As the morula differentiates into a blastocyst there is a gradual increase in the size of the mitochondria and an increase in the number of cristae. We believe that the number and modifications of cristae indicate stages of mitochondriogenesis and the level of enzymatic activity in which this organelle is engaged during oogenesis and early embryogenesis.

Notizen: The reproductive tracts of several species of lizards were examined to understand the events assoclated with the transport of discharged oocytes following ovulation. At the onset of the reproductive cycle the regressed ovaries and oviducts appear as inconspicuous structures pressed against the dorsal body wall. As the reproductive cycle progresses, they undergo marked changes in position and size. The oviducts migrate ventrally and surround the growing ovarian oocytes, which move anteriorly where coelomic space is more abundant and eventually press intimately against the infundibulum. When ovulation occurs the ostium is in a remarkably strategic location for directly receiving the ovulated oocytes. The virtual isolation of the ovaries from the general coelom by the encapsulating oviducts, and the intimate association of the pre-ovulatory oocytes with the infundibular ostium do not support the current concept advocating the migration of loose ova following ovulation. An alternative explanation for the “trans-coelomic migratiion of ova” is proposed.

Notizen: A fine structure study of spermatids and spermatozoa of the spider, Pisaurina sp. demonstrates that early spermiogenesis is similar to other flagellate spermatozoa. An acrosome forms from a Golgi-derived, acrosomal vesicle, a perforatorium indents acromosome and nucleus, a flagellum with a three-plus-nine tubule substructure is formed and nuclear chromatin condenses during spermiogenesis. Divergence from typical spermatozoa includes the presence of a three-tubule substructure of the central flagellar shaft, progressive rounding-up of late spermatids with concomitant incorporation of previously formed flagellum. This evidence is presented in terms of its possible functional significance in fertilization and gamete fusion in spiders.

Notizen: Gross morphology, staining characteristics and mapping of the diversity of the neurosecretory cell types in the brain and subesophageal ganglion of the scorpion Heterometrus swammerdami are reported. Special neurosecretory cell groups whose product is stainable with orange-G, acid fuchsin and Heidenhain's hematoxylin are present in the brain.In many of the living isolated neurosecretory cells, the secretory material appears luminous when viewed with dark ground illumination and granular when observed with phase contrast microscope.In the subesophageal ganglion the metameric arrangement of neurosecretory cells is distinct. Neurosecretory product accumulating in specific regions of subesophageal ganglion, and its axonal transport into the dorsal nerves and their termination in cephalic blood vessels apparently representing a storage and release organ of neurosecretion is reported.

Notizen: The placental memebranes and uterus of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, were studied using histological, histochemical, electron microscopic, dye transfer, and radioisotopic techniques. The conceptuses are completely enclosed throughout gestation by a transparent shell membrane which is produced by glandular epithelia in the uterine segment of the oviduct.Both chorio-allantoic and omphalo (yolk-sac) placentation are observed in this snake. The growth of the extra-embryonic mesoderm takes place in a manner peculiar to placental reptiles, and results in the isolation of the omphaloplacenta from the yolk-sac wall. On the basis of morphology, enzyme histochemistry, and phagocytosis of Trypan blue particles, this structure is interpreted as a site of histiotrophic absorption.The chorio-allantoic region of placentation is simple in structure. Fetal and maternal capillaries are closely apposed but always separated by layers of uterine and chorionic epithelium and the thin shell membrane. The placental membranes of the garter snake are similar in many respects to those of other live-bearing snakes, but less specialized than most lizard placentate.Isotopically labelled sodium and glycine are passed to the fetus following maternal injection, the latter at least apparently via the omphaloplacenta. The permeability to iron and phospate is extremely low. On the basis of these results and the selective transfer of certain dyestuffs, it appears that the shell membrane functions as a dialyzing membrane.

Notizen: Spermatozoa of the hydroid Pennaria tiarella were examined with the electron microscope. The anterior region is characterized by the presence of 30-40 membrane-bounded vesicles which lie anterior to the nucleus. These vesicles are apparently derived from the Golgi apparatus.The nucleus is conical in shape with a protrusion at the anterior end. Posteriorly it is indented by four radially arranged mitochondria. Lying within the fossa formed by the mitochondria are proximal and distal (filament forming) centrioles. The distal centriole is characterized by nine centriole satellite projections which emanate from its matrix. The tubules of the distal centriole are continuous with the alpha filaments of the tail.The tails are typical 9 + 2 flagella with 9 peripheral doublet (or alpha) filaments surrounding two central (or beta) filaments.

Notizen: The principal parenchymal elements of the submandibular glands of the heteromyid rodents Dipodomys merriami, Perognathus longimembris, Perognathus fallax, Perognathus penicillatus and Perognathus baileyi consist of acini, granular tubules and striated ducts.Acinar cells of the four species of Perognathus are aniline blue, PAS (magenta) and Alcian blue (pH 2.5) positive and metachromatic with toluidine blue and safranin. The granules of the tubule cells are orthochromatic and react with aniline blue, orange G, the PAS reagent (deep pink) and the tryptophan indicator, xanthydrol. Acinar and tubule cells of D. merriami exhibit similar reactions except for the Alcian blue stain. Acinar cells of D. merriami do not react with Alcian blue.Submandibular glands of D. merriami exhibit a sexual dimorphism of the granular tubules. There is little observable difference between the sexes in the species of Perognathus but the ratio of granular tubules to acinar elements, the degree of hypertrophy of the tubules, and the amount of mucosubstance and protein (granules) contained in their cells are different in the four species studied.Since these desert rodents have similar habitats and habits, the differences observed between the two heteromyid subfamilies studied, as well as among the four members of a single subfamily, suggest that these are inherent species variations rather than variations of adaptation to environment.

Notizen: The histology of the alimentary canal is described for the last instar larva, pupa, and adult Hyalophora cecropia (L.). Particular attention is given to the changes occurring in the midgut during the larval-pupal transformation and in the hindgut during the pupal-adult transformation. Descriptions are made as to the nature of the imaginal rings at each end of the midgut and a new structure is described in the larval ileum. The formation of adult rectal pads is followed in detail.

Notizen: The external prostate of male hedgehogs (Erinaceus europeus, Hemiechinus sp.) was studied at the beginning and at the end of the breeding seasons. Its tubular secretory units contain two types of epithelia, columnar and stratified. The columnar epithelium has abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and forms secretory granules. The stratified epithelium undergoes cellular changes culminating in appearance of nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions, nuclear pyknosis and desquamation of cells and nuclei into lumen. The nuclear inclusions contain protein and abundant silver-reducing substances. These inclusions may be derived from the residual protein of the nucleus.

Notizen: Integument from blue and green areas of the variant blue frog were analyzed biochemically for pteridines and carotenoids. Solvent extraction and absorption spectrophotometry indicated that β carotene was greatly reduced in the blue skin, and present in high quantities in the green skin of the blue frog. Thin layer and paper chromatography indicated that the pteridines were almost totally lacking in the blue skin, and present in normal quantities in the green skin of the blue frog.Light and electron microscopy indicated that the xanthophore pigment cells were either greatly altered or absent from the blue integument and present in the green integument. The fine structure of the xanthphores of the green integument contained the normal ultrastructural components of xanthopores found in regular green integument. The blue integument contained an abnormal cell type that occupied the position in the dermal chromatophore unit normally held by the xanthophores. The possibility of these cells being abnormal xanthophores or some other cell type is discussed.

Notizen: The spleen of the armadillo is invested by a capsule composed predominantly of smooth muscle. Inward extensions from the capsule contribute to an extensive system of trabeculae of the non-vascular type. The white pulp presents a typical follicular arrangement and the red pulp is permeated by an anastomosing series of venous sinsuses. The capillary segment of the penicillar artery is invested by an ellipsoid sheath. The spleen of the armadillo may be included in the class of mammalian spleens characterized as sinusal in nature and possessing ellipsoid sheaths. Electron micrographs of thin sections of the sheathed capillaries demonstrate a high-type of endothelium. A characteristic feature of this endothelium is the presence of a distinct intracytoplasmic fibrous component.The reticular cells comprising the sheath proper exhibit various sized vacuoles and inclusion bodies suggestive of their potentially phagocytic nature. In both light and electron microscopy, venous sinuses lie in close proximity to the peripheral cells of the ellipsoid sheaths. Within the wall of the venous sinuses, patent openings are appearent between the lining cells. If such an arrangement exists in the functional state of the organ, it could provide for an additional means of exposure of both plasma and cellular elements to the adjacent phagocytic cells of the sheath proper.

Notizen: The aggregation in vitro of embryonic neural retina cells was studied by electron microscopy with special emphasis on the reformation of intercellular junctions. The results show that (1) embryonic neural retina cells dissociated with trypsin retain morphological characteristics and polarity after dispersion into a suspension; (2) initial adhesions between the aggregating cells are nonspecific with respect to cell type and to the site of cell surface involved; (3) histogenetic associations in clusters of reaggregated cells appear within two hours after the start of aggregation. A hypothesis is presented that coated vesicles play a role in the formation of intercellular junctions.

Notizen: Observations on inner ear structure were made in five species of Scincidae, together with measurements of auditory sensitivity in terms of cochlear potentials. The basilar membrane and auditory papilla show a characteristic form, with considerable uniformity in dimensions except for a moderate expansion in the dorsal region and a more prominent one at the ventral end.A characteristic feature is the presence of a tectorial membrane that covers a large part of the surface of the medial limbus, but never leaves this surface and thus fails to make any contact with the auditory papilla. Hair-cell stimulation is achieved entirely through operation of the inertia principle (or equivalent principles) by means of a chain of sallets extending along most of the cochlea but giving way in the region of the ventral expansion to a single large body, the culmen papillae.The sensitivity varies in the five skinks studied from better than average to some-what below average in comparison with other lizard species. Thus an inertial (or inertia-like) system of hair-cell stimulation compares favorably with the tectorial membrane (restraint) system exhibited in the ears of most other lizards and all the higher animals.

Notizen: Spiders possess curved, blunt-tipped hairs on all legs and palps, which differ in many details from the straight, sharp-pointed, tactile hairs: (1) the blunt tip is open to the outside, which can be demonstrated by high resolution microscopy and by the penetration of dyes; (2) the hair shaft has a double lumen which consists of a circular (tube) and a crescent shaped lumen; (3) this hair is innervated by two to three bipolar neurons whose dendrites enter the small tube, where they arborize into 16-20 branches. Multiple innervation and an open tip give strong evidence for a chemoreceptive function. Concluding from their position and distribution on the distal leg parts, a contact chemoreception is tentatively proposed. This interpretation is supported by the close structural analogy to the known contact chemoreceptors in insects. Observation of behavior indicates the importance of a contact chemoreceptor on spider legs. Other possible chemoreceptors in spiders which have been described previously by other authors are discussed.

Notizen: In a study of survival of embryonic grafts in turtles, Chelydra was used as host and Chrysemys and Amyda as donors. Somites and overlying ectoderm with or without adjacent neural tube were transplanted. The operations were unilateral and orthotopic. The involved the anterior portion of the carapace. In other experiments, bilateral neural crest and dorsal neural tube were transplanted orthotopically.In experiments with Chrysemys as donor, pigment cells formed conspicuous red areas ventrally when neural crest was included in the graft. This pigment faded gradually but persisted for three or four years.When somites and adjacent ectoderm of Chrysemys carapace were transplanted, the graft area was lightly pigmented at hatching. This pigmentation increased subsequently. The Chrysemys grafts were either accepted or partially rejected. In cases of apparent complete acceptance, the graft region took on characteristics of the host.When Amyda served as donor of carapace rudiments, the graft area retained characteristics of the donor. At hatching, dark spots on a yellow background were present and scutes were absent. A few months after hatching, the graft area became necrotic. Subsequently, scutes with host characteristics or skin covered the graft area.

Notizen: Changing spermatozoan associations were observed in the epididymides of several mammals. These associations ranged from closely interwoven cylindrical bodies, found in the proximal part of the epididymis, to disorganized masses of spermatozoa, found in the distal part of the duct. It is suggested that changes in the cohesive properties of epididymal spermatozoa resulted in the formation and fragmentation of cylindrical bodies. These bodies, differeing in pattern and complexity according to the species, were found in all investigated mammals, including man. Cohesiveness appeared first in the upper part of the epididymidis, where it was confined to the spermatozoan tails. In general, there was a diminution of cohesive forces as the spermatozoa passed down the epididymal duct; consequently, the cylindrical bodies turned into disorganized masses of spermatozoa. There are indications that changes in the cohesive properties of spermatozoa may represent one aspect of spermatozoan maturation.

Notizen: Large number of annuli in Hirudinea are not true segments, and in the absence of spacious bodycavity and septa in adult no decision was taken regarding limit of a somite, until Gratiolet 1862 recognised a segment by colour marking, repetition of nephridial openings, and especially by the presence of segmental receptors, distinguishing first annulus of a segment. Whitman 1884 gave precision to these determinations and analyzed morphology of leeches to logical completeness. He recognised that though Hirudinaria and Hirudo have 102 body annuli and posterior sucker, true segments are only 26 plus 7.Castle ('00) and Moore ('00) proposed a new scheme of segmentation, with segmental receptor bearing annulus, as central annulus of a complete somite, with nerve ganglion, like that of other annelids, in center of a segment. They orientated everything roundabout the ganglion without noticing distorted fate of organ system.In this paper both the views are compared. Morphological and embryological studies reveal that the annulus bearing the segmental receptors in uniformly first annulus of all segments, including incomplete segments at the two extremities, with nerve ganglion in first annulus of the segment.Clitellum occupies three natural segments, IX, X, XI; crop caeca, nephridia, testis sacs, haemocoelomic channels and “rhomboidal figures” formed by ventrolaterals, all make a complete unit, well integrated in such segment. Conclusive evidence comes from the presence of septa at the level of each nerve ganglion in embryos of Hirudinaria. These observations corroborate Gratiolet and Whitman's view.

Notizen: Sperm from the male spermatophore in the red spotted newt are held indefinitely in convoluted, tubular outpocketings of the female cloaca called, collectively, a spermatheca. Each outpocketing, or tubule, when studied in thin section with the electron microscope showed a wall consisting of two components, a continuous inner or lining layer of epithelial cells and an outer covering layer of myoepithelial cells.The myoepithelial layer is penetrated by occasional openings or intercellular spaces through which the epithelial cells make contact with a basal lamina that bounds the tubule. The myoepithelial cells resemble smooth muscle cells displaying filaments (mean diameter = 75 Å ± 1 S.E.) that are probably constituted of actin, dense bodies and prominent caveolae. They are sparsely supplied with mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi complexes and, sometimes, particles of glycogen. Typically the epithelial cells contain secretion granules, numerous mitochondria and ribosomes. They contain some fibers similar to those of the myoepithelial cells but with mean diameters that are significantly larger (90 Å ± 2 S.E.). Occasional profiles of Golgi complexes are evident and glycogen particles are abundant throughout the cytosomes of spermathecal tubules from adult animals bearing sperm. Secretory granules and glycogen are extremely rare or lacking in the spermathecae of efts that have not attained sexual maturity and in animals with ablated or involuted ovaries. In such animals large electron-lucid vesicles appear at or near luminal borders. Glycogen is absent and secretory granules show signs of dissolution in the spermathecal cells of gravid females induced to ovulate by the injection of chorionic gonadotropin. It is indicated that the epithelial cells provide nourishment for the sperm while they are retained within the spermathecal tubules, that the discharge of sperm from the spermatheca is facilitated by the contraction of the myoepithelial cells and that gonadal hormones act in the regulation of spermathecal function.

Notizen: A fine structural analysis of the ovotestis in Aplysia was undertaken in order to analyze the site of action of the bag cell hormone. Five stages of oocyte development are described. Of particular interest is the fact that the yolk seems to be synthesized primarily by the granular endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, small muscle cells whose long, thin processes surround the follicle of the ovotestis have been pointed out. This paper suggests that bag cell extract has a direct action on these small muscle cells causing them to contract and thus expel oocytes from the ovotestis. The evidence for this suggestion is that (1) these muscle cells are the most obvious effector cells in the ovotestis, (2) there are no signs of neural innervation of these muscles, (3) the time course for the liberation of the oocytes is so short that any other method of oocyte release is unlikely, (4) there is no cytologic evidence for any other expulsion process except muscular contraction, and (5) the ripe oocytes are attached to other cells of the wall of the ovotestis only by very small, simple junctions, thus making them the most likely cells to be expelled by muscular contraction.

Notizen: The structure and polysaccharide constitution of the jelly capsule of the egg of Rana pipiens is described. Microscopic examination of the jelly capsule revealed the presence of five discrete jelly layers that differed clearly in their response to selected cytochemical tests. These layers were classified as M1-through M5 from the inner to the outermost layer. A sixth layer occasionally could be observed between M3 and M4.All layers contain neutral mucopolysaccharides. In addition layers M1 and M3 contain sulphated mucopolysaccharides, M2 and M4 contain non-sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides, and layer M5 contains both sulphated and non-sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides. M2 may also contain a small quantity of sulphated mucopolysaccharides. The layer that occasionally appears between M3 and M4 is probably an area in which free acidic groups are in higher concentration than in adjacent areas rather than being a discrete jelly layer. Neither hyaluronic acid nor sialic acid was localized by the methods employed.The possible significance of some of these constituents is discussed.

Notizen: Meiosis is described in virgin females, inseminated females and males of the acarid mite Caloglyphus mycophagus (Megnin). The observed sex determining mechanism is an XO-type with the male having a diploid chromosome number of 15. Oogenesis in mated females is regular. Pachytene is the earliest meiotic stage which is readily identifiable. At metaphase I eight bivalents are observed. Both products of the first maturation division divide at the second maturation division. After the fusion of the pronuclei either 15 or 16 chromosomes are observed in cleaving eggs.Nurse cells are not observed during the growth period of the oocyte. Such oocytes are attached to a central structure of the ovary by a cone-shaped organelle. At this stage the nucleus appears as a germinal vesicle; a nucleolus is present and the diffuse chromatin appears to extend from the nucleolus to the nuclear membrane. Nuclear extrusion bodies can be seen adjacent to the nuclear membrane both within and outside of the nucleus.Virgin females do not oviposit. The aberrant morphology and behavior of bivalents in post diakinetic oocytes which have not been penetrated by a sperm are described. Neither chromatin nor a chorion could be demonstrated in aberrant oocytes situated in the oviduct. It is suggested that oocyte degeneration in virgins is an adaptive feature in an animal order in which parthenogenesis is the more common mode of reproduction.

Notizen: Projection microradiography was used to determine the density and orientation of the force transmitting structures, i.e., trabeculae and bone lying between approximately parallel vascular canals, within the bones of cat skulls. The organisation in the skulls was confirmed statistically for a total of ten cats. The results of the observations showed that within specific areas of the skull a high degree of structural orientation and an increased density of osseous structures was present. The distribution of these characters corresponded in contiguous bones such that a continuum of structural organisation was established between the alveolar region and the site of attachment of the temporalis and masseter muscles and the glenoid region.The patterns of force transmission during jaw closure were determined when a resistance was placed initially between the canines and then the carnassials. An analysis was first carried out on dry skulls using colophonium resin to determine the direction of the force distribution. The nature and the approximate magnitude of the forces were ascertained by replacing the resin with strain gauges. The basic similarities in the strain patterns recorded from the dry skulls and those from the ten anaesthetised cats in which strain gauges had been intra-vitally implanted, substantiated the recordings made on the dry skulls. Combination of the results from the three sets of experiments defined the patterns of force distribution in the cat skull during the closure of the mandible against a resistance. The results showed that: (1) the combined action of the temporalis and masseter muscles tended to reduce the overall strain in the skull bones, and that the deformations produced by the action of the masseter were greater than that exerted by the temporalis muscles; (2) during biting, whether the resistance was placed between the canines or carnassials, compressive forces predominated in the facial bones; (3) small movements observed between facial bones indicated the presence of a flexible component within the skull, thus allowing large forces to be exerted during biting without overstressing the facial bones; (4) the glenoid fossa is part of a force bearing joint; (5) forces generated during biting were resisted within the skull by forces of an opposite nature generated within the system, the incompressible nature of bone and by the effect of the soft tissues; (6) the nature and the magnitude of the strain altered when a resistance was placed at the canines and then at the carnassials; however, the pattern of force distribution within the skull remained the same; (7) there was a direct correspondence between the detailed structural organisation of the bones and the patterns of force distribution. This conclusion would appear to apply in general to mammalian skulls. The study also emphasises the importance, neglected hitherto, of carrying out a variety of experiments to determine the patterns of force distribution in bones.The Trajectorial Theory of bone organisation is discussed and, on the basis of the results obtained, a modified theory is proposed. This states that: the structural continuum is common to the compact and cancellous bone and comprises bony bars which are aligned in the optimum direction for the transmission of force to a region in the bone or bones where it is effectively resisted.

Notizen: The tarsi of all three pairs of legs of both sexes of Aedes aegypti (L.) bear spine sensilla, five types of hair sensilla, which are designated A, B, C1, C2 and C3, and campaniform sensilla. Type A and B hairs, spines, and cam-paniform sensilla are innervated by one neuron with a tubular body, a characteristic of cuticular mechanoreceptors. In particular the hairs and spines are tactile receptors and the campaniform sensilla are proprioceptors. The C1, C2, and C3 hair sensilla have the morphological features of contact chemoreceptors. Type C1 and C3 hairs are innervated by five and four neurons, respectively, which extend to the tip of the hair. Type C2 is innervated by five neurons, one of which terminates at the base of the hair in a tubular body while the remaining four extend to the tip of the hair. The role of the type C hairs in oviposition behavior, nectar feeding, and recognition of conspecific females is discussed. Presumed efferent neurosecretory fibers occur near the spine and hair sensilla.

Notizen: The micro-anatomy of the corpuscles of Stannius of the toadfish, Opsanus tau, an aglomerular marine teleost, has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The corpuscles are composed of extensively anastomosed cords of epithelial cells which maintain intimate contact with blood capillaries. Most of the epithelial cells contain acidophilic granules which also show a positive reaction with the periodic acid-Schiff technique and aldehyde fuchsin. On the basis of fine structural criteria, three cell types can be recognized. The granular cells contain abundant quantities of granular endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus with prosecretory granules, coated vesicles, polymorphic mitochondria with lamellar cristae, filaments, microtubules, a cilium, a variety of lysosome-like dense bodies, glycogen particles, lipid droplets, secretory granules and intranuclear lipid-like inclusions. One variety of agranular cell (type I) is characterized by the total absence of secretory granules, but it contains large amounts of granular endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes, conspicuous profiles of Golgi apparatus, coated vesicles and sometimes an abundance of glycogen. Another variety of agranular cell (type II) has poorly developed cytoplasmic organelles. The perivascular space between the capillary and parenchyma contains connective tissue cells and abundant nerve fibers. The different types of epithelial cells observed in the corpuscles of Stannius of this fish may represent functional stages of the secretory cycle in a single cell type.

Notizen: The nervous system of the maldanid polychaetes Clymenella torquata (Leidy) and Euclymene oerstedi (Claparede) (= Caesicirrus neglectus [Arwidsson, '11-'12]) retains its primitive association with the epidermis. It shows only slight metamerism in the presence of larger collections of neurones opposite the parapodia and of larger nerves at the segmental boundaries. Multicellular giant fibers are present in the ventral nerve cord; giant neurones which show a characteristic pattern of distribution in each species are also present. The cerebral ganglia supply nerves to the prostomial wall, nuchal grooves and the wall of the buccal cavity, and a pair of large nerves from the circumpharyngeal connectives also appear to join the buccal system. The organs of special sense are the elongated prostomial nuchal grooves, and prostomial ocelli in Euclymene but not in Clymenella. Statocysts are absent.Four pairs of nephromixia are present. They lie in the aseptate anterior trunk, in chaetigers 5-9 of Clymenella, and 6-10 of Euclymene. The nephridiopores lie at the ventral ends of the neuropodia of chaetigers 6-9 and 7-10, respectively. Each nephromixium consists of coelomostome, tubule and contractile bladder. The wall of the tubule and bladder consists of both excretory and ciliated cells. Most of the cytoplasm of the latter forms a bounding layer at the outer surface. The cytoplasm of the excretory cells contains lipid material and appears to synthesize lipofuscin. The tips of the excretory cells swell, fill with granules, and break off in the form of vesicles which are periodically expelled in clouds from the nephridiopores. Glycogen is present, especially in the ciliated cells of the tubule and coelomostome.Granules of a lipoid nature accumulate in (or between) cells of the nephridia, epidermis, and some regions of the gut, and may be excretory. Lipid granules also appear to be synthesized by coelomocytes which eventually end up in masses in the ventrolateral coelomic cavities of the tail.The nephridia act as gonoducts, but show no seasonal variation in either size or histological structure.

Notizen: The ascophoran Pentapora foliacea was studied from epoxy sections of skeletal and soft (hard-soft) tissues. The basal wall is double, indicating the colony grew as two independent layers, back to back. The structure of the vertical walls and interzooidal communication organs indicates that zooids were budded in the usual way as in most encrusting cheilostomes. Secondary layers of the frontal wall are of acicular aragonite. The ovicell develops as a flattened cuticular bladder in early ontogeny; the aragonitic layer of the frontal wall later engulfs it. A median vesicle, an evagination of the vestibular wall, is present but the eggs may be supplied with sufficient yolk to nurture the embryo. The overall ovicell structure is similar to that of hyperstomial ovicells in other cheilostomes.

Notizen: This investigation describes the pre-natal morphogenesis of the type I pneumocyte subsequent to its differentiation from pulmonary epithelium. Cells lining subpleural alveolar septa were photographed from serial sections with the electron microscope, and a three-dimensional representation of each cell was obtained by transferring the contours of the cell membranes from montages to transparent plastic sheets which were then spaced to scale and stacked. The results of this study indicate that: The nascent blood-air barrier of a 50-day reconstructed cell was twice as thick as the average definitive barrier; definitive barrier thickness was observed in some areas in a 63-day reconstructed cell; the amorphous component of elastic tissue which appears peripherally in septal connective tissue during pre-natal morphogenesis may be directly juxtaposed to the basal lamina of the alveolar epithelium; the orientation of the cell junction between a pneumocyte and its neighboring cells, as observed in sections of alveolar septa, changes as the contour of the pneumocyte changes from simple abutment to overlapping patterns.

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

Notizen: The integument of Paranthessius anemoniae has been studied with light and electron microscopy. A cuticle with clearly defined epicuticular, exocuticular and endocuticular regions overlies a cellular hypodermal layer. The distribution of carbohydrate, lipid and protein components of the cuticle were demonstrated histochemically. Parabolic striations in oblique sections of cuticle suggest that its molecular architecture fits a “twisted sheet” theory proposed for other species.Arthrodial membranes at body and limb joints have a homogeneous structure, lacking exocuticle and endocuticle. Subcuticular glands appear to secrete substances thought to be responsible for the immunity which Paranthessius seems to have to the nematocysts of its host. Small hairs, situated in cuticular cups which occur over the dorsal body surface are considered to function as rheoreceptors.

Notizen: The larval epithelium of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus, consists of squamous cells and bands of columnar epithelial cells bearing cilia. During metamorphosis this tissue undergoes a series of rapid, complex changes. Through the scanning and transmission electron microscope, we describe and analyse these changes. The changes can be divided into three steps. (1) The larval arms bend away from the left side of the larva, exposing the urchin rudiment. Cells which are identical to smooth muscle cells are in a position to bring about this bending. (2) The squamous epithelial cells assume a cuboidal shape. This change in shape results in the collapse of the larval epithelium onto the presumptive aboral surface. These cells possess a subapical band of microfilaments. The cellular shape change but not the bending of the arms is reversibly inhibited by Cytochalasin B. These observations suggest a mechanism for this change. (3) The former lining of the vestibule of the urchin rudiment comes to lie over the collapsed larval tissue and forms the adult epithelium. At this point, after only one hour, the larva has assumed the external shape of an adult sea urchin.

Notizen: The mucous gland of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalamus viridescens viridescens, Rafinesque was examined by histochemical and ultrastructural techniques and its cytological responses to various hormonal conditions were studied. Its secretory epithelial cells produce and release in merocrine fashion a neutral, unsulphated mucosubstance. The secretory epithelium is bounded peripherally by a thin, but apparent non-functional, myo-epithelium. The duct of this mucous gland consists of a single keratinized tubular cell that extends from the neck region of the gland to the surface of the epidermis.Mucous secretion is absent or greatly reduced on the skins of newts maintained under laboratory conditions for a few weeks but reappears after injection of ovine prolactin. Mucous glands in laboratory conditioned animals show a 4-fold increase in volume brought about by the engorgement of their epithelial cells with secretory granules. Ovine prolactin reduces the volume of the glands to unconditioned levels with a corresponding reduction in granular content, suggesting that prolactin functions in the release of the granules. This view is reinforced by the findings that autotransplantation of the pituitary gland prevents the conditioning effect and that glandular volume increases in auto-transplanted animals given ergocornine. Granular accumulation begins also in hypophysectomized newts but ceases after a week, indicating the need for some hypophyseal factor in the synthesis as well as the release of the granules. Ovine prolactin restores mucous glands of hypophysectomized newts to the unconditioned state. Contrary to earlier findings, ovine prolactin induces a reduction in the volume of the mucous gland in thyroidectomized newts.

Notizen: The process of coelomic pouch formation in Pisaster ochraceus was studied with light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and time-lapse cinemicrography as well as with the drug cytochalasin B. As in most asteroids, the paired coelomic pouches of Pisaster ochraceus are formed from outpocketing of the archenteron.Arrays of 50 Å microfilaments are found in the presumptive coelomic pouch cells at the apex of the archenteron as well as in the filopodia of the mesenchyme cells. Both cell types undergo active movements throughout the entire process. Treatment of embryos with cytochalasin B (CCB) during coelomic pouch formation results in the loss of cell movements and the regression of the coelomic pouches; this is accompanied by the loss of microfilament arrays in both cell types. Cell movements and microfilament arrays reappear on removal of CCB and coelomic pouch formation resumes.Our evidence suggests that the microfilaments in the presumptive coelomic pouch cells provide the main force for the outpocketing movement. The major role of the microfilament arrays in the filopodia of the mesenchyme cells associated with the coelomic pouches is to determine the definitive shape and location of the pouches.

Notizen: Morphological changes of the ovary of the Chinese cobra, Naja naja, throughout the annual reproductive cycle are described. A single clutch of between 6 and 22 eggs is produced in late June. From July to the following April the ovary remains quiescent and contains small previtellogenic, hydration stage follicles. The growth of an ovarian follicle from a primary oocyte to maturation and ovulation is estimated to take three years. The histology of the germinal epithelium and the follicular granulosa shows seasonal changes correlated with the growth of the oocyte. During the quiescent period, the germinal epithelium lacks mitotic activity, but during April, when yolk deposition and rapid growth of the preovulatory follicles take place, the germinal epithelium shows intense mitotic activity. The growth of the smallest hydration stage follicles, and the occurrence of cytoplasmic bridges between the pyriform cells of the granulosa and the developing oocyte, also appear to increase during this period. The possible function of the pyriform cell is discussed and the literature on the origin and fate of these cells in the squamate ovary is reviewed. Postovulatory follicles (corpora lutea) and two types of atresia are described and compared with what is known of these structures in other reptiles.

Notizen: An experiment was undertaken to determine which sensory structures of the mouse embryo inner ear developed from what portion of the mouse otocyst. Otocysts of gestation days 10, 11, 12 and 13 were divided by surgical dissection into six anatomical groups: dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior, medial and lateral halves. They were organ cultured separately. After a period of ten days, the explanted tissues were harvested and processed histologically for microscopic analysis. The surgical control specimens fixed at the time of explanation were composed of undifferentiated ectodermal cells for tissues of gestation days 10, 11, and 12. Otocysts of gestation day ten showed no gross morphological differentiation. Otocysts of gestation days 11 and 12 showed, during the course of their subsequent growth, that the three semicircular ducts and their associated cristae developed from the dorsal and lateral halves. Only the anterior and posterior canals and cristae originated from the medial portion. The posterior half gave rise to the posterior crista and the anterior half provided for the development of the anterior and lateral cristae. The cochlear duct and its sensory epithelium developed in all the anatomical groups except the dorsal half. The utricle developed in the dorsal section of the middle third of the otocyst, while the utricular macula developed in the anterior half of the same section of the otocyst. The saccule and its macula differentiated from the ventral section of the middle third of the anterior half.

Notizen: The pineal-paraphyseal complex of sea turtles is an impressively large structure which projects dorsally and anteriorly above the prosencephalon. The complex was examined by light microscopy in several age classes of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and from juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). The paraphysis is extensively fused to the distal portion of the pineal body, suggesting an interrelated function for these two tissues. No duct or canal was observed connecting the pineal lumen to the third ventricle. Two pineal cell types are described which appear to correspond to the neuroglial supportive cells and the secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells of other amniotic vertebrates. A possible luminal secretion in the form of apical protrusions is produced by the latter cell type. No typical photoreceptive outer segments were observed.

Notizen: The fine structure of the wax gland of Anomoneura nymph and its metamorphic change were investigated. In the nymph, this organ encircles the anus, and consists of two kinds of cells, derived from epidermal cells: (1) very tall, slim wax cells, which produce and secrete the wax, and (2) flat interstitial cells found among the wax cells. The whole gland is covered by a wax-secreting cuticle with a delicate surface sculpture. Each wax cell has a long, wide duct which opens at the cuticle and penetrates the entire cell. Its cytoplasm is rich in mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum while that of interstitial cells contains rough endoplasmic reticulum. During each nymphal molt, the cluster of primordial wax gland cells  -  derived from the epidermis  -  proliferates rapidly and forms the gland of the next instar. The gland of the preceding instar meanwhile degenerates. Interstitial cells play an important role in cuticle formation and shedding at each molt. These cells alone produce and deposit the new cuticle of the next instar; the wax cells, specialized for wax production, cannot produce cuticle. The apical portion of the wax cell is cut off from the main cell body by growth of the surrounding interstitial cells. Thereafter, the wax cells degenerate, resulting in the rapid disappearance of the previous instar's wax gland. Adults lack this gland entirely.

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

Notizen: Ultrathin sections of the nasal barbel of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, were studied in the electron microscope and the fine structure was compared to that of barbels of other teleosts and to the mandibular (dentary) barbels of I. punctatus. While the overall histology of the nasal barbel is similar to that of barbels described previously, this study revealed far greater cellular complexity and variability than was previously reported. A layer of stratified epidermal cells rests upon a connective tissue dermis containing a cartilage rod, a large number of nerve fibers and numerous blood vessels, fibroblasts and pigment cells. Taste buds are present in the epidermal layer. This layer was found to contain probably 16 kinds of cell types, several of which may represent transitional stages, in addition to taste bud cells. Observations were made pertaining to innervation and cell types in the taste buds. A new terminology for designating the barbels of I. punctatus is suggested.

Notizen: Study of the visceral anatomy of 41 specimens of amphisbaenians representing 13 genera shows that they share a very distinct structure which differs from that found in either snakes or typical lizards. The left lung is large while the right is rudimentary or absent (unique); the kidneys are freely suspended in the coelom by a mesentery (unique); the spleen is usually embedded in the anterior end of the pancreas (as in snakes); the gall bladder lies in a notch in the liver, and the kidneys lie opposite each other (as in lizards). The distinctness of this pattern supports the recognition of the Amphisbaenia as a separate suborder of the Squamata.

Notizen: Light and electron microscope studies were made on harvestman oocytes during the course of their origin, differentiation, and vitellogenesis. The germ cells appear to originate from the ovarian epithelium. They subsequently migrate to the outer surface of the epithelium, where they remain attached often by means of stalk cells which suspend them in the hemocoel during oogenesis. The “Balbiani bodies,” “yolk nuclei,” or “nuage” constitute a prominent feature of young, previtellogenic oocytes, and take the form of large, but variable sizes of electron-dense cytoplasmic aggregates with small fibrogranular components. The cytoplasmic aggregates fragment and disperse, and cannot be detected in vitellogenic oocytes. The young oocytes become surrounded by a vitelline envelope that appears to represent a secretory product of the oocyte. The previtellogenic oocytes are impermeable to horseradish peroxidase under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In addition to mitochondria, dictyosomes, and abundant ribosomes, the ooplasm of the previtellogenic oocyte acquires both vesicular and lamellar forms of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. In many areas, a dense homogeneous product appears within the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum and represents nascent yolk protein synthesized by the oocyte during early stages of vitellogenesis. Later in vitellogenesis, the oocyte becomes permeable to horseradish peroxidase under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. This change is associated with a massive process of micropinocytosis which is reflected in the presence of large numbers of vesicles of variable form and structure in the cortical ooplasm. Both spherical and tubular vesicles are present, as are coated and uncoated vesicles. Stages in the fusion of the vesicles with each other and with developing yolk platelets are illustrated. In the harvester oocytes, vitellogenesis is a process that involves both autosynthetic and heterosynthetic mechanisms.

Notizen: The clitellar epithelium of the freshwater oligochaete, Tubifex hattai, is composed of four types of gland cells (Type I, II, III, and IV), in addition to the cells generally found in the epidermis of this worm. The possible function of these gland cells in cocoon formation was studied with the electron microscope.Type I cells discharge their secretory granules by means of compound exocytosis and provide the materials for the future cocoon membrane. Immediately after completion of the discharge from Type I cells, Type II and III cells simultaneously discharge their secretory granules by means of compound exocytosis. The secretions from Type II cells constitute a colloid in the cocoon lumen and probably cause structural modifications in the future cocoon membrane. The secretory products from Type III cells form the cocoon plug. Although the process of discharge of secretory granules from Type IV cells was not observed, the contribution of these cells to the cocoon formation, producing hoops on the outer surface of the future cocoon membrane and fixing its anterior ends on the clitellum, is inferred from a morphological comparison of the hoop and the structure of the secretory granules.

Notizen: The distribution and activity patterns of monoamine oxidase and monoaminergic (formaldehyde-induced) fluorescence in the central nervous system of web-building and hunting spiders have been studied using histochemical methods. Enzyme activity occurred in the neuronal perikarya and in varying intensity in the structures of the neuropile mass, but only when dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were used as substrates. The optic centres of the spider brain normally exhibited relatively strong enzyme reactions when compared with the staining intensity of the rest of the nervous system.The neuronal cell bodies contained numerous granules of yellow-green fluorescence. Monoaminergic fluorescence of the neuropile was generally a weak green. The optic mases of the hunting spiders, the anterior bridge, several commissures of the ventral cord, and the neural lamellae showed a slightly higher fluorescence intensity and single fluorescing granules.The results obtained indicate the presence of catecholamines in the spider nervous system.

Notizen: The tongue of the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, shows a V-shaped row of pits on its posterior dorsum. Their development is described on the basis of macroscopic and light microscopic observations on fetal, young, and adult stages. Four to eight pits occur, most often five in the adult. Anlagen of the pits first protrude as round epithelial thickenings which later increase in diameter and become thin. The circular primordia then sink, and grooves oriented both circularly and radially develop in the walls of the shallow pits thus formed. Pits and grooves deepen with development so that older pits become lined with conical projections. As pits grow further, they become elongated anterolaterally, retaining slit-like openings. Each pit in the adult is 2-8 mm long and about 1 mm wide. The pits are not derived from lingual gland ducts but develop independently. Taste buds resembling those of other mammalian tongues can be found in young dolphins but are few in number and limited to the thin epithelium of the pit projections and to that of the side wall of the pits. They first appear in the late prenatal period but degenerate in the adult. A rich nerve supply is observable in the lamina propria below taste buds in the calf. The pits and their projections in the dolphin correspond to the vallate papillae of other mammals, but whether each projection or a whole pit corresponds to a single vallate papilla is undecided.

Notizen: Two morphologically distinct structures occur on the surfaces of the oral papillae in several loricariid catfish species; namely, (1) typical vertebrate taste buds composed of receptor and sustentacular cells and (2) brushlike projections, termed epidermal brushes, that represent specialized epidermal cells containing keratin. Both of these structures were studied with the combined use of light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The general body surface, fins, and rostral cutaneous processes of some loricariid catfishes are covered with taste or terminal buds but lack the epidermal brushes. It is suggested that the epidermal brushes found on the oral papillae serve as protective devices for the taste buds and as abrasive surfaces for substrate scraping during feeding. The taste buds on the oral papillae may detect any gustatory stimuli from the resulting substrate disturbance. Comparative studies reveal many differences in the number and spatial arrangement of these two structures on the oral papillae among the several species of the Loricariidae examined. These differences may represent functional adaptations to the various modes of life in the Loricariidae.

Notizen: The Y-organ has been histologically identified in all six larval stages of the crab, Cancer anthonyi. The paired glands are located anterior to the branchial chamber and ventral to the base of the antennules. In the first zoeal stage the gland consists of a cord of 6 to 10 epidermal cells with dark staining nuclei, sparse cytoplasm, and indistinct cell boundaries. As development progresses the glands become more complex through extensive folding and intertwining of the cellular cords. The glands in all larval stages show cyclical activity which corresponds to the molt cycle. Immediately following a molt the gland is dense and compact with little cytoplasm. At approximately day four in the molt cycle, the glands become greatly hyperthropied due to an increase in the number and size of the cytoplasmic vacuoles. These histological changes suggests a cyclical production and presumably the release of some product most likely ecdysone.

Notizen: The digestive tract of a harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus californicus (Baker), was studied by using techniques of light and electron microscopy. Four cell types could be distinguished: type 1, an embryonic cell which will replace cells worn away or lost during secretion; type 2, a cell which synthesizes and secretes proteins and also plays a role in lipid absorption; and types 3 and 4, two cell types which absorb lipids. From the abundance of each cell type, the length of microvilli, the development of basal plasma membrane (PM), and luminal projections, the following conclusions were made. (1) The midgut caecum absorbs digested nutrients. (2) The anterior midgut absorbs nutrients and more importantly functions in merocrine and exocrine secretion. The presence of concretions in cell types 2 and 3 in the anterior midgut suggests that these tissues contribute in excretion, and in water and/or ion regulation. (3) The posterior midgut absorbs nutrients and contributes some holocrine secretion.

Notizen: Tactile hairs are present on all three subsegments of the antennal flagellum of the human louse. There is, in addition, a single chemoreceptor (tuft organ) on subsegment 2 and 12 or 13 chemoreceptors (one tuft organ, two pore organs and nine or ten pegs) on subsegment 3. The cuticle surrounding the bases of the pegs at the tip of the antenna is unusual in that parts of it are perforated by many fine pores. This cuticle is underlain by a thin layer of dendrites. This region may also have a chemoreceptor function.

Notizen: The heart-body of the marine worm Amphitrite, located within the supraesophageal dorsal vessel, is in the form of a cylinder the thin wall of which is deeply corrugated by luminal projections and folds along its entire length. It is anchored in places to the luminal surface of the dorsal vessel by an extracellular matrix containing collagen fibers. The luminal surfaces of both the heart-body and the dorsal vessel are covered by a basement membrane-like vascular lamina which in turn supports a discontinuous pseudoendothelium of littoral hemocytes.The cells of the heart-body constitute a pseudostratified, high columnar epithelium. They possess extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), a well developed Golgi zone, ferritin particles and granules, and several types of membrane-bound inclusions. Hemoglobin molecules identical to those in the circulation lie within cytoplasmic, membrane-bound vesicles. Analysis of our electron micrographs suggests the following sequence of hemoglobin production and secretion: Large quantities of a moderately dense flocculent material, probably globin, are synthesized in RER and move to the Golgi zone within partly rough- and partly smooth-surfaced transitional cisternae; small transport vesicles, formed from Golgi cisternae that have fused with transitional cisternae, convey the flocculent material from the convex to the concave face of the Golgi complex; a similar flocculent material and an amorphous, highly dense material are processed in the Golgi complex and are transferred to condensing vacuoles in which clearly identifiable hemoglobin molecules are first observed. Mature secretory vesicles containing only hemoglobin migrate to the cell periphery and discharge their contents by exocytosis. Hemoglobin molecules then cross the vascular lamina to reach the circulation.

Notizen: The dermopteran basicranium combines a primitively constructed and oriented auditory bulla formed by ectotympanic, rostral entotympanic, and tubal cartilage with derived features of the middle ear transformer and internal carotid circulation. Living dermopterans possess a primitive eutherian auditory region that has been structurally modified to perceive a lower frequency sound spectrum than probably was utilized by ancestral Mesozoic therians. Perception of the low to midfrequency range is enhanced in Dermoptera by reducing stiffness in the mechanical transformer while maintaining low mass of the component parts. Stiffness has been reduced by (1) development of an epitympanic sinus about four times the volume of the middle ear cavity proper, (2) detachment of the anterior process of the malleus from the ectotympanic, and (3) by delicate suspension of the ear ossicles within the middle ear.We apply to dermopterans a measure of hearing efficiency derived from recent functional studies of the mammalian middle ear that regards the middle ear mechanism as an impedance matching transformer. Calculation of the impedance transformer ratio for Dermoptera suggests that these mammals are relatively efficient in comparison to other eutherians in their ability to match the impedance of cochlear fluids to that of air at the eardrum. Dermopterans theoretically are capable of using over 90% of incident sound energy striking the eardrum at the resonant or natural frequency. Mechanical impedance of the middle ear transformer exerts a minimal influence on hearing efficiency due to low mass, little stiffness, and little frictional resistance.Analysis of measurements of the middle ear transformer published by Gerald Fleischer and integration of these data with current theory on the peripheral hearing mechanism in mammals allow us to propose a model that describes the structural and functional evolution of the mammalian middle ear transformer. Structural changes appear to be correlated with alteration in function from primitive small mammals with stiff middle ear transformers and high frequency dominated hearing to mammals with a wider range in body size with more mobile middle ear transformers and a greater range of frequency perception, often including improved sensitivity to lower frequencies.Mammals employ different anatomical strategies in attainment of increased hearing efficiency and sensitivity. Efficiency is improved by adjustment of lever and areal ratios of the middle ear transformer to achieve an optimum impedance match of external air and cochlear fluids. Sensitivity over a broad frequency spectrum is attained by minimizing mass, stiffness, and frictional resistance of the transformer. The morphology of the auditory region of both living and fossil mammals seems explicable in terms of selection pressure directed toward these ends.

Notizen: Analysis based on telemetered electromyography from the quadriceps femoris of Lemur fulvus, a Malagasy prosimian, during walking, galloping, leaping, and a variety of postural behaviors partially confirms and partially contradicts earlier hypothesized functions of this musculoskeletal complex. As predicted on the basis of morphological criteria (large physiological cross-section and long parallel fibers), the vastus lateralis is of special functional significance in leaping. This relatively large muscle consistently initiates the leap and frequently undergoes a very long period of force enhancement via active stretch. By contrast, the vastus intermedius fails to exhibit increased electrical activity and undergoes little or no active stretch during jumps. The myological details of vastus intermedius (short fibers, no fusion with other components), therefore, cannot be accounted for as adaptations to leaping. Rather, a primary postural role is indicated for the vastus intermedius, because in normal resting postures, with the knee quite flexed, it alone is continuously active. The existence of a fibrocartilaginous superior patella in the tendon of vastus intermedius, however, is most plausibly related to the complex tensile and compressive stresses generated in the tendon during the completely hyperflexed phase of leaping.The phasic patterning of the quadriceps femoris of Lemur fulvus does not point to any special role of the vastus lateralis or vastus intermedius during walking and galloping; it does indicate very different patterns of muscle recruitment in comparison to those in nonprimate mammals and some anthropoid primates. The forward cross walk (diagonal sequence, diagonal couplets) of primates versus the backward cross gait (lateral sequence) of most other mammals probably accounts for some of these differences. Lemur fulvus lacks the degree of elastic storage and release of kinetic energy in the quadriceps femoris that characterizes the gallop of dogs, cats, and Erythrocebus patas.

Notizen: The active motility of the cells of the yolk sac of the living Fundulus embryo was studied by time-lapse cinemicrography with phase contrast optics. In the teleost, the yolk sac lies peripheral to the body of the embryo proper and consists of a fluid-filled space bounded above by a superficial epithelium, the enveloping layer (EVL), and below by the yolk syncytial layer (YSL). The cell types treated in the present study are the enveloping layer epithelial cell, the stellate cell which lies in a layer flattened on the inner surface of the EVL, the epithelioid deep cell, the yolk sac amoebocyte, the yolk sac endothelial cell and the yolk sac melanoblast. The most actively motile cells examined in the present study are the yolk sac amebocyte and the melanoblast, which emigrates from the embryo proper at stages 19-21. The amoebocytes are compact rounded cells that move very rapidly by the extension of lamellipods with scalloped margins. The amoebocytes wander over the yolk sac in an apparently undirected fashion and invade the embryo proper when they happen to encounter it, moving between cells of the lateral mesoderm. The melanoblasts migrate by the gradual extension of elongated branching processes. Cells are sometimes monopodial, with movement being parallel to the long axis of the cell. Alternatively, movement may be perpendicular to the predominant long axis, with processes being extended alternatively from opposite ends of the cell obliquely forward, so the path described is a zig-zag to either side of the overall direction of movement. Although the melanoblasts show irregularity in their movement, the predominant direction of initial movement is away from the embryo proper. The major yolk sac blood vessels form in situ by the collective activities of presumptive endothelial cells that enclose volumes of the yolk sac space with sheet-like processes from the cell body and from the extensions that connect cells into networks.

Notizen: Morphometric analysis of vertebral structure in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) is presented. Ontogenetic variation in Dermophis mexicanus is analyzed through the 100+ vertebrae composing the column. Vertebral structure in adult D. mexicanus is compared with that in Ichthyophis glutinosus and Typhlonectes compressicauda. Centra of the atlas, second, tenth, 20th, and 50th vertebrae grow at allometrically different rates in D. mexicanus, though the 20th and 50th are not significantly different, Growth appears significantly slower in several dimensions of anterior and posterior vertebrae relative to midtrunk vertebrae in all three species. Mensural patterns throughout the entire column are similar in the terrestrial burrowers D. mexicanus and I. glutinosus; patterns in the aquatic T. compressicauda differ substantially from those of the burrowing species and are strongly influenced by allometry. Of the 112 D. mexicanus examined, 13.4% had vertebral anomalies, usually fusions.

Notizen: Statoblasts of five higher phylactolaemates were compared morphologically. As a result, they were divided into two groups: Group I comprising Lophopus crystallinus, Lophopodella carteri, and Pectinatella gelatinosa, and Group II comprising Pectinatella magnifica and Cristatella mucedo. These two groups are thought to represent independent evolutionary series. In Group I and in P. magnifica, the statoblasts are curved to varying degrees after the manner of a saddle. When the dorsal and ventral valves are flattened, therefore, the contour is different between the two. In Group I, the outermost layer of a mature statoblast is hard-gelatinous and basophilic; it remains intact after the statoblast is set free. The statoblast does not float until it is dry, and the float is similar in size on both valves. In Group II, a mature statoblast is covered by a softgelatinous basophilic layer, which decays after the statoblast is released. The statoblast floats without drying, and the float is better developed on the dorsal valve than on the ventral. Moreover, in the members of Group II, large yolk granules are first formed, followed by much smaller yolk granules. When their statoblasts are treated with KOH, the shell is separated completely into two valves. These characters are common to many lower phylactolaemates. By contrast, in L. carteri and P. gelatinosa, the yolk granules are uniformly small and the capsule proper resists KOH treatment. On these points, L. crystallinus is somewhat different from these two species, suggesting its primitive nature.

Notizen: Teeth of fetuses of a caecilian, Dermophis mexicanus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona), show ontogenetic variation in crown structure from small, multidenticulate, and non-pedicellate to larger, spoon-shaped, pedicellate teeth with a single apical spike. Number of denticles decreases as enamel-secreting cells mature. Numbers of teeth and of tooth rows increase ontogenetically. A fetal vomeropalatine set of teeth is present in D. mexicanus but absent in species previously examined. Teeth transitional to the adult shape and arrangement appear shortly before birth. The transition is correlated with birth, not fetal size. There is relatively little increase in numbers of teeth during the juvenile period. The pattern of development does not fully agree with either morphogenetic field theory or with clone theory, both as defined by Osborn ('78). Sequence of initiation is appropriate to either. Tooth shape changes agree with aspects of clone theory. Multiple rows of fetal teeth and the transition to adult follow field theory. Clone theory holds that patterns of development and shape are self-regulated, field theory that they are controlled extrinsically. I suggest that substances regulating differentiation mediate early development, and hormones later development, including inception of adult teeth, and are comparable to “field substances” influencing primordia that originate according to clone theory. Components of both theories are appropriate to analyzing tooth development phenomena.

Notizen: New data on the brain of Latimeria indicate that previous estimates of the brain weight were too high by a factor of two. Our data suggest a brain weight of 1.1-1.5 grams for a specimen with a body weight of 30 kilograms. Quantitative data on major divisions of the brain are presented for the first time, and the relative size of the major brain divisions is similar to that of sturgeons and generalized sharks (such as hexanchids and squalids). Examination of brain component weight (s): body weight plots in a sample of non-teleost actinopterygian fishes indicates that all major divisions of the brain, except the telencephalon, are larger than in Latimeria. Brain component sizes in Latimeria are more similar to those extrapolated for amphibian brains than to those for actinopterygians. However, the cerebellum of Latimeria is considerably larger than that of amphibians.

Notizen: The Champy-Maillet osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide technique and a new method using azur B-sodium thioglycolate were used to study the general nervous tissue structure in planarians. A subepidermal and a submuscular nerve plexus, partially reported by earlier authors, are described, and a gastrodermal plexus is reported for the first time in triclads. The possible functions for each one of these plexuses are discussed. By the Champy-Maillet method, the innervation within the parenchyma appears as an array of numerous single nerve fibers that course between the parenchyma cells making apparent synaptic contacts. The pharynx has outer and inner nerve nets similar in structure to the submuscular nerve plexus. Both nerve nets are connected to each other by radial nerves.The central nervous system has a sponge-like structure with many lacunae filled with cell bodies, dorso-ventral muscle fibers, parenchymal cell processes and excretory ducts. The existence of this sponge-like nervous tissue structure is discussed in relation to the still incomplete centralization of the nervous tissue in these organisms, to the lack of a true vascular system and to the acoelomate level of organization. A comparison with the nervous tissue structure of more advanced groups like polyclads and nemertines is suggested.

Notizen: Secretion in the salivary glands of Gromphadorhina portentosa involves three cell types: parietal cells, secretory cells, and duct cells. The organization and role of the parietal and secretory cells are here considered. Parietal cells have numerous mitochondria, indicating an active metabolic role and the subsequent production of ATP. Plasma membrane invaginations and intracellular ductules containing microvilli appear to function in the absorption of solutes from the hemolymph and finely-tapered ductules. Secretory cells contain abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, the three forms (stacked, vesicular, and diffuse) of which appear to develop sequentially during maturation. Secretory vesicle formation is asynchronous between adjacent secretory cells, and apparently the large vesicles often coalesce. The secretory vesicles also show differing degrees of electron density, indicating distinct biochemical composition.

Notizen: Studies were undertaken of the microcirculation and histology of the gill of Protopterus aethiopicus as a prerequisite for elucidating the function of the gills in a bimodal respiratory system. The lamellae of the gill-bearing arches (I, IV, V, VI) resembles the arborescent external gill of the larval amphibian rather than the gill of the teleost or selachian.The arterio-arterial system (a-a) of the gill consists of an afferent artery, a series of large capillaries, and an efferent artery on each of the primary, secondary and tertiary lamellae. There are no pillar cells and the loose capillaries are covered with a multilayered epithelium. While living in water, the minimum distance for gas exchange is of the order of 5 μ. An afferent-efferent arterial shunt at the base of each primary lamella may be involved in control of lamellar blood flow and the resistance of the gill vasculature.The arterio-venous system originates primarily from the efferent side of the arterio-arterial system and drains into large branchial veins. Numerous contractile cisternae, interposed between intercellular channels and veins, presumably function as micropumps that collect fluid from intercellular epithelial spaces and inject it into the venous circulation.During aestivation, the epithelial layer of the gill lamellae becomes thinner. The entire gill vasculature, including the capillaries and afferent-efferent shunts on arches IV-VI, are very dilated which presumably promotes blood flow through these gill arches to the lungs.

Notizen: The movements of the shoulder girdle of eight adult cats during overground stepping were studied, using standard slow motion cinematographic techniques. The patterns of activity of shoulder muscles were examined, using simultaneous intramuscular electromyography. Walking, trotting and galloping steps were analyzed from digitized single motion picture frame images. Angular movements of the shoulder girdle consist of biphasic flexion and extension of the shoulder joint and a monophasic flexion-extension alternation of the scapula on the thorax during each step cycle. In addition, the center of the scapula moves craniad during the swing phase and caudad during the stance phase with respect to a fixed reference point on the animal. Similar vertical movements of the center of the scapula also occur in each step cycle. Results of EMG studies of the 17 muscles capable of acting on the shoulder girdle indicate that three overall patterns of activity are found: (1) a pattern typical of extensor muscles, active during all the extension epochs; (2) a pattern typical of flexor muscles, active during the flexion epoch; and (3) a biphasic pattern of activity, active twice in each step. These data are used, along with a re-examination of previous models of the mechanics of the shoulder girdle of carnivores to examine the function and mechanics of shoulder motion. It is concluded that the rotary and translatory movements of the shoulder girdle during stepping combine to enhance step length.

Notizen: The most striking morphological feature of the ovarian epithelium of Cymatogaster is the presence of intercellular dilations during much of the year. These dilations increase markedly in volume during the several months prior to ovulation and fertilization, and decrease in volume during the months of embryogenesis and gestation. The epithelium then returns to its initial, relatively undifferentiated state. The extracellular material within the dilations likely is synthesized in the cells adjacent to or within the dilations. Apparently most of this material is released into the ovarian lumen when the apicolateral margins of adjacent epithelial cells pull apart; possibly it serves as nutrient for developing embryos.In addition to supporting embryogenesis, the ovarian epithelium also apparently is involved in sperm storage. Sperm are maintained within pockets in the ovarian epithelium for the several months between insemination and fertilization. The cells lining the sperm pocket do not develop the intercellular dilations characteristic of most of the ovarian epithelium, and sperm remain associated only with the sperm pocket cells.

Notizen: The antennae of Folsomia candida and Hypogastrura copiosa are provided with tactile hairs on all four segments and, in addition, with chemoreceptors on segments three and four. The cuticle of the thin-walled chemo-receptors of Folsomia, as in most other insects, is penetrated by many small pores uniformly distributed over the surface. In contrast, the cuticle of the thin-walled chemoreceptors of Hypogastrura is unusual in that a band of cuticle without perforations spirals around, or partly around, the hair. The cuticle between the spirals is very thin, and has extremely small openings in it. The tip of the antenna of Folsomia is thin, permeable to dyes in aqueous solution and apparently glandular. The antennal tip of Hypogastrura is definitely glandular.

Notizen: After hemisection of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, a projection has been traced to the inner half of the tectal white of the tiger salamander, using Fink-Heimer degeneration staining. By microelectrode recording it was found that the tectal projection forms a topographic somatosensory map of the contralateral half of the body. This map is in register with the overlying retino-tectal visual projection. Using the Falck-Hillarp technique, it was found that the somatosensory tectal input is associated with yellow-fluorescing 5-hydroxytryptamine fibers.

Notizen: A comparative morphological study concerning typology and topography of chemoreceptors on the prothoracic legs of Calliphora vicina, Phormia terranovae and Musca domestica has been carried out. The typological criteria of Grabowski and Dethier ('54) and Hansen and Heumann ('71) were used. A single criterion, the shape of the tip, was used to define the different types of chemoreceptors.A-hairs have a rhombic pore at the side of the tip; B-hairs have an oval pore at the tip apex and D-hairs have a rectangular pore under an undulated, cap-like structure at the hair tip. A-, B-and D-hairs were found in the tarsomeres of Phormia; in Musca and Calliphora only B- and D-hairs were found. An opening and closing mechanism may operate on the pores of the tips of the chemoreceptors. Chemoreceptors were counted and a topographical map was completed, using SEM-techniques. Topographical maps are of value in electrophysiological and behavioural research, where only a limited optical magnification is possible.

Notizen: The structures of the lantern tracheoles of three genera of flashing fireflies are compared. All three genera have stiff, reinforced tracheoles which resist folding or collapsing under conditions which flatten more typical tracheoles. This common specialization supports the hypothesis that the tracheoles play a major role in flash control in these fireflies, especially as the morphological basis of the stiffening is different in the three genera. Study of the tracheoles of other tissues reveals that there is great variety in structure and flexibility of these vessels from tissue to tissue and organism to organism, suggesting that tracheolar specialization may be a general phenomenon, with the fine structure of these air tubes being tailored to the particular demands and conditions of the tissues in which they are found.

Notizen: Tibiotarsal segments of 12-day chick embryos homozygous for the crooked neck dwarf gene (cn/cn) were examined histologically following routine methods of preparation. The myogenic mass fails to divide into separate muscle bundles during the early stages of differentiation. Myoblasts and myotubes are observed, although the proportion favors the mononucleate cell population. Multinucleate myotubes are often wavy in appearance and many contain eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. The entire tissue mass of mutants appears more compacted than in control limbs. Poor organization of muscle appears related to the lack of a suitable connective tissue system. Epimysia, perimysia, and subcutaneous connective tissue fail to develop properly. Tendons are poorly developed or absent. Comparisons between mutant and control embryos show no differences in peripheral innervation. Nerve fascicles penetrate deeply into the developing muscle of both species. The distribution of vascular elements is seemingly normal also. Skeletal muscle of cn/cn embryos is capable of differentiating to the myotube stage, after which it undergoes cellular degeneration without achieving a functional state. Comparisons of this mutant with alleged chemical phenocopies show important differences.

Notizen: The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of eight teleostean stomachs are compared. Three gross anatomical types of stomachs are described and their shapes appear to correlate somewhat with feeding habits. Each type can be divided histologically into a corpus and pylorus. Gastric glands, containing only one cell type, occur in the copora of all species, but are present in the pylori of esocids only. As a single cell can produce both enzymes and hydrochloric acid such cells may be comparable to those of amphibians but not mammals. Lamina propria and submucosa are indistinctly separated in corpora but better defined in pylori by an intervening muscularis mucosa. The arrangement of the muscularis into inner circular and outer longitudinal layers is the opposite of that seen in the esophagus. Gastric mucous cells show species variations in localization of epithelial mucosubstances, which in broad terms are recognized as sulfomucins, sialomucins and neutral mucosubstances. A piscivorous diet does not appear to demand any particular type of carbohydrate. Within the Centrarchidae, gastric pit cells vary in carbohydrate content from only neutral mucosubstance to only weakly acidic sulfomucin; two species contain both types. A positive PAS reaction on the surface of gastric epithelial cells is suggestive of a striated border and thus possibly absorptive function. The absence of stomachs in some teleosts and the evolutionary and dietary significances are discussed.

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

Notizen: Among piscivorous cichlids consistent differences have been recorded between ambush and pursuit hunters with respect to electromyographic, kinematic, pressure and behavioral profiles during prey capture by high speed inertial suction. Piscivorous cichlids possess a repertoire of at least two patterns of prey capture, each of which is characterized by an extreme regularity of the kinematic, pressure, electromyographic and behavioral profiles. The nature and locomotory behavior of the prey, visually analyzed by the predator during the prestrike stalk, determine which of the two preprogrammed patterns is recruited. Agile and elusive prey invariably will elicit a preprogrammed motor output (stereotyped motor pattern) that produces the greatest suction velocities in both ambush and pursuit hunters. The greater the kinematic and suction velocities, the greater the overlap of the firing sequences of antagonistic muscle complexes. The opercular and branchiostegal apparati function as an exceedingly effective anti-backwash device, damping potential fluid oscillations within the oropharynx. Mastication occurs by triphasic movements and actions of muscles of the upper and lower pharyngeal jaws in both ambush and pursuit hunters. The lower pharyngeal jaw is acted upon by a force couple of which the fourth levator externus on one hand and the pharyngocleithralis externus and pharyngohyoideus on the other hand are the antagonistic components. Furthermore, the lower pharyngeal jaw is suspended by a muscular sling, the tension of which can be modified continuously. It is postulated that the switch from insectivorous to piscivorous feeding regimes (and perhaps vice versa) is accomplished by very minor structural and functional modifications, because the modulatory multiplicity and total range of repertories of the feeding machinery of the two trophic groups overlap significantly. Piscivorous cichlids may not have arisen by orthoselection in gradually-changing lineages, but represent the differential success of subsets from a random pool of speciation events. Adaptive features identified as characteristic for piscivory could have evolved in multiple and independent lineages at a punctuational mode and tempo.

Notizen: Previously unreported structures found on the head and thorax of several species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) are described. Depending on the species, these presumptive pheromone-producing glands are found either (1) on the basal segment of the antenna, (2) on movable and immovable occipital sclerites, (3) as eversible organs from the occipital area of the head, or (4) on structures which are attached near the bases of the front wings.

Notizen: The morphology and organization of chromatophores in the neotropical glass-frog, Centrolenella fleischmanni (family Centrolenidae), were studied with both light and electron microscopes. Four types of pigment cells are described in the dorsal skin. The fine structure of two chromatophores corresponds to the typical amphibian xanthophore and iridophore; one is similar to the unusual melanophore found in phyllomedusine hylids; the fourth cell type is unlike any chromatophore previously described. Pigment granules in the unusual chromatophore are moderately electron-dense and have an irregular shape, suggesting a fluid composition. This pigment appears to be laid down in organelles similar in appearance to pterinosomes. The organization of pigment cells in this species differs from that of other green, leaf-sitting frogs in that there are few discrete groups resembling “dermal chromatophore units.” It is suggested that the unusual new pigment cell contributes significantly to the overall green color of C. fleischmanni.

Notizen: Electron microscopy of the cerebral ganglionic commissure of the leech Macrobdella decora (Say, 1824) revealed numerous neurosecretory axons terminating in the neural lamella of both the inner and outer capsules, and in the neural lamella deep within the neuropile. The proximal protions of the terminals, with an investment of glial tissue, contain either numerous large homogeneously electron dense granules, or numerous large granules of varying electron density. The distal portions, often devoid of glia, display numerous infoldings, omega profiles, and electron dense focal sites, and contain numerous neurosecretory granules, small lucent vesicles, and, occasionally, acanthosomes. Statistical analysis of the size distribution and morphology of the neurosecretory granules showed that in many individual terminals the granules are not significantly different from those seen within four groups of neurosecretory cells found in the cerebral ganglion. These terminals, because of their diffuse nature, probably represent a neurohemal complex of a primitive nature. The term “intralamellar complexes” is proposed to describe the form and location of these neurosecretory terminals.

Notizen: Rat submandibular gland was dissociated by enzymatic digestion with collagenase and hyaluronidase, followed by mild mechanical shearing and filtration through a nylon mesh. The dissociated cell populations contained predominantly groups of acinar cells which maintained their acinar arrangement. The morphological and functional viability of the cells was confirmed by electron microscopic examination and a normal secretory response to β-adrenergic or cholinergic stimulation was observed. Both isoproterenol (IPR) and carbachol caused the fusion of secretory granules into large vacuoles which were also continuous with the lumen, and into which the secretory product was released. Secretion was assessed quantitatively from the incorporation of 14C-glucosamine into the acinar cells and its subsequent release into the culture medium as labelled glycoprotein. IPR stimulated secretion to 125% of untreated controls in the concentration range 5 × 10-5 to 5 × 10-7 M, and to 110% of controls at 5 × 10-8 M, after 40 min incubation. Carbachol stimulated secretion to 131% of controls at 5 × 10-5 M and to 115% at 5 × 10-6 M but had no effect at 5 × 10-7 or 5 × 10-8 M. The secretory response was blocked by the respective β-adrenergic and cholinergic antagonists, propranolol and atropine. These findings show that dissociated rat submandibular acinar cells provide a useful in vitro model for the study of mucus synthesis and secretion.

Notizen: Wild-collected adults of Bombina orientalis are bright green dorsally and red to red-orange ventrally. As a prelude to an analysis of the differentiation of pigment cells in developing B. orientalis, we describe structural and chemical aspects of the fully differentiated pigment pattern of the “normal” adult.Structurally, differences between dorsal green and ventral red skin are summarized as follows: (1) Dorsal green skin contains a “typical” dermal chromatophore unit comprised of melanophores, iridophores, and xanthophores. Red skin contains predominantly carotenoid-containing xanthophores (erythrophores), and skin from black spot areas contains only melanophores. (2) In ventral red skin, there is also a thin layer of deep-lying iridophores that presumably are not involved in the observed color pattern. (3) Xanthophores of red and green skin are morphologically distinguishable from each other. Dorsal skin xanthophores contain both pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles; ventral skin xanthophores contain only carotenoid vesicles. Carotenoid vesicles in dorsal xanthophores are much larger but less electron dense than comparable structures in ventral xanthophores.The presence of carotenes in ventral skin accounts for the bright red-orange color of the belly of this frog. Similar pigments are also present in green skin, but in smaller quantities and in conjunction with both colored (yellow) and colorless pteridines. From spectral data obtained for xanthophore pigments and structural data obtained from the size and arrangement of reflecting platelets in the iridophore layer, we attempt to explain the phenomenon of observed green color in B. orientalis.

Notizen: This study describes intercellular bridges in the ovaries of neonatal gerbils. Electron microscopy has revealed the presence of true intercellular bridges, connecting oogonia or oocytes, in ovaries of newborn gerbils. The cytoplasm of the intercellular channels is similar to that of the connected cells, with mitochondria, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and free ribosomes present. Lysosomes are also occasionally present in the intercellular bridges and they may be involved in early waves of oocyte atresia. An electrondense substance, 350-500 Å thick, is located immediately beneath the unit membrane of the intercellular bridges. Accumulation of electron-dense material increases the thickness of the walls of the intercellular bridges, supporting and maintaining the patency of the channels. It is suggested that the intercellular channels probably allow the interchange of nutrients, organelles, and possibly regulatory materials as well.