Zeitschrift fur mikroskopisch-anatomische Forschung最新文献

Ultrastructure and histochemistry of clinically normal appearing tissue and secretions of non-lactating human mammary glands have been investigated in order to document and analyse secretory phenomena in the resting gland. The material studied originated from women of different ages (18-74 years) who underwent plastic surgery or surgery for various disorders of the breast. The epithelia of small ducts and of alveolar enlargements as well as acini contained moderate amounts of mitochondria and of cisterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum; the transcisterns of the Golgi apparatus which were surrounded by smooth and coated vesicles, exhibited modest dilatations, the number of lysosomes increased with age; regularly glycogen particles and bundles of intracellular filaments (phi 5 nm) were to be observed. Typical casein vesicles and stages of apocrine secretion of milk fat globules were not seen. The following features indicated secretory activity: differently sized vesicles and granules with flocculent, dense, or light contents were regularly to be seen in the apical cytoplasm often immediately below the apical plasma membrane of the epithelia of the small ducts and even more frequently in the alveolar enlargements. Secretory products of fine granular or filamentous structure, probably containing proteins, were frequently found within the lumen. Different types of lipid and liposome-like particles were detected both in intracellular localization as well as in ductal lumina. As demonstrated by lectin histochemistry the secretory products also contained a considerable amount of carbohydrate components. The composition of the secretory products of the resting gland is of clinical interest since the chronical deposition of secretions, which among others possibly contain enzymes producing oxygen radicals, may lead to pathological changes of mammary gland tissue.

The myenteric plexus of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) small intestine was studied by means of silver staining, glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence, the modified Koelle-Friedenwald method for the detection of acetylcholinesterase, NADH-diaphorase techniques and the unlabelled antibody method involving the use of an antiserum raised against GABA conjugated by glutaraldehyde to bovine serum albumin. The majority of the perikarya were in the ganglia, with an average density of 3370 +/- 942 nerve cells/cm2. Cholinesterase-positive and a few GABA-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were seen in the myenteric ganglia, while fluorescent ganglion cells were not observed. In addition to AChE and GABA-positive nerve fibres, a rich fluorescent network of varicose and nonvaricose nerve fibres was detected, pointing to the presence of an extrinsic aminergic system in the domestic fowl myenteric plexus. Electron microscopic observations on nerve cells, axon profiles and varicosites with various vesicle populations were in good agreement with the histochemical findings.

Samples of cervical, mediastinal and perirenal fat tissue were obtained from eight subjects (ages: 17 days to 56 years) at necropsy. After formol fixation, the specimens were processed for sectioning and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid--Schiff, or Holmes' silver techniques for light microscopy. All the tissue samples showed lobular organisation and a rich vascularity, with argentaffin (putative nerve) fibres at paravascular and parenchymal sites. Three histological forms of brown adipose tissue (BAT) were recognised: homogeneous lobules of multilocular adipocytes (Type I); mixed lobules consisting of islets of multilocular adipocytes surrounded by large unilocular cells (Type II); and lobules consisting mainly of small (less than 40 microns diameter) unilocular adipocytes (Type III). In two subjects (ages 17 days and 52 years), BAT (Types I and II respectively) was observed in tissue samples from all three sites. Perirenal samples from three other donors (ages 26-35 years) showed the presence of Type II or III BAT. Mediastinal BAT (Type II) was found in two subjects (26- and 35-years old). The significance of BAT in man inhabiting a warm environment is discussed.

This paper describes observations of the normal and irritatingly changed morphology of the human peritoneum and about alterations in human peritonitis. The results were obtained by transmission- and scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical reactions, and other supplementary light microscopic investigations on surgically collected tissue material. Special attention was given to the superficial structure and the openings of the peritoneum. The superficial liquid film and the microvilli of the mesothelium are influenced by irritative conditions. In the human peritoneum, there are separated areas of small high and of large flat mesothelial cells. The small-cell areas of the peritoneum are connected with openings, special mesothelial cell glades, and cell migrations from deeper parts. There are signs of mesothelial secretion into the peritoneal cavity from mesothelial cells and intercellular spaces of the mesothelium too. The stomata--openings of the peritoneum--are of conditioned character. These depends upon the state of the superficial mesothelium and upon topical loci between the mesothelial cells. Special attention requires the so-called Dreierpunkt. In peritonitis, there are also openings in the fibrin layer. On this condition, the superficial layer of mesothelium mostly becomes destroyed. The keratin reaction is the most essential among the immunohistochemical investigations. It allows to demonstrate preserved mesothelial cells in the deepness of inflammatory tissue in peritonitis.

A malignant tumour of the rat pancreas with features of both acinar and endocrine cells is presented. This consisted of a continuous cytoplasmic mass with numerous dispersed nuclei and branches protruding from its borders invading the surrounding exocrine tissue. The most prominent characteristic of the tumour was the co-existence of zymogen and endocrine secretory granules and cytoplasmic organelles typical of both acinar and islet cells. Some hypotheses are put forward concerning the origin of the tumour and its vasculature.

Maturing ovarian follicles undergoing atresia were ultrastructurally analyzed. Using the method of Okrös (1968) the process of luteinization was traced, taking place in the basal layer of cells of granulous membrane and in the cells of inner layer of theca interna during the atresia. In the atresia process, numerous electron dense granules arranged in packets and surrounded by tubular mitochondria are observed in the basal cell layer of granulous membrane. A considerable accumulation of the grains of reaction product and the presence of tubular mitochondria are also found in the cells of theca interna. Such a behaviour of those cells can be associated with an enhanced production of steroid hormones (mainly estrogens) in atretic follicles.

The described triple staining (PAP, aldehydefuchsin, and cresyl violet) enables the distinction of different neuronal types with regard to their content of neurotransmitters or neuropeptides and their lipofuscin pigmentation respectively. The use of filters improves the contrast of immunohistochemical and lipofuscin staining, and facilitates the differentiation of neurons under the microscope. An additional important point is the advantage that perikaria can be measured in the usual morphometric manner.

Ten lectin-binding patterns were examined with the PAP method for the detection of sugar residues on the Harderian glands of golden hamsters of both sexes. Each lectin showed a specific binding pattern. The most characteristic pattern was exhibited by DBA which intensely stained cells with small lipid vacuoles, but not cells with large lipid vacuoles in the male gland. In the female gland, both cell types showed no reaction with the DBA. The PNA had almost the opposite binding pattern. From the lectin-binding patterns, it can be derived that, not only do the two cell types in same sex glands have different glycoconjugate distribution, but also the same type of cells in different sex glands has a different glycoconjugate distribution. Therefore, the sexual dimorphism of the golden hamster Harderian gland also occurs in its carbohydrate moieties. In this study, the duct of the Harderian glands revealed no sexual dimorphism in the lectin-binding patterns.

A combination of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology and ultrastructure of normal human spinal ligaments sampled from adult surgical specimens. The ligamenta flava consist mostly of dense elastic fibers, whereas the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments are preponderantly collagenous. In all ligaments, the collagen fascicles are characterized by a regular crimp structure. The inner collagen fibers of interspinous ligaments tend to be oriented parallel to the spinous processes while those of the peripheral layers run in postero-cranial direction. The presence of proteoglycan filaments is clearly demonstrated in all of the ligaments examined. They are mainly located at the d band of the collagen fibrils. These findings are discussed in relation to the function of the posterior ligamentous system. It is suggested that the interspinous ligaments are able to transmit tension from the thoracolumbar fascia to the spine. Finally, the spinal ligaments are thought to be involved in the control mechanism of the spine.

The localization and proliferative response of optic tectum matrix cells has been studied in adult newt following an experimental lesion on an optic lobe. The results show that 15 days after the lesion the cells in division, autoradiographically labelled, are located in the periventricular layer. Thirty days after the lesion the labelled cells are also found in the innermost grey layers; at 90 days the injured optic tectum regains the cytoarchitecture characteristic of this centre, with labelled cells, whether in the external or in the internal pyriform layers. In all the stages the labelled cells are also found in the periventricular layers of the controlateral optic tectum, in the dorsal pallium and in the striatum. The quantitative data exhibit the existence of a direct relationship between the number of proliferating cells in the injured optic lobe and the extent of the lesion. These data show the possibility of active cellular proliferation for the reconstruction of the lesioned nervous area and for restoration of the characteristic histological structure.