Archivum histologicum japonicum
Print ISSN : 0004-0681
Volume 47, Issue 2
Displaying 1-8 of 8 articles from this issue
  • Kazuhiro ABE, Hiroko TAKANO, Takashi ITO
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 121-135
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Ligation of the efferent duct in the mouse results in appearance of PAS-positive inclusions in principal cells in the duct of the epididymal body, and the inclusions are considered to be formed by absorption of the luminal PAS-positive material produced in the epididymal head (ABE et al., 1982a). For better understanding of the significance of the inclusions, this study examined morphologic changes in the principal cells after efferent duct cutting, by light and electron microscopy.
    Electron microscopy revealed that the principal cells containing PAS-positive inclusions are characterized by a nipple-like protrusion—micropapilla—on the luminal surface and by peculiar multivesicular bodies in the supranuclear cytoplasm. The micropapilla, 1-2μm in height, contains ductules of 0.2-0.5μm thickness which extend from its tip to the multivesicular bodies. The multivesicular bodies, measuring up to 10μm in diameter, are larger toward the nucleus. They contain numerous vesicles, 40-100nm in diameter, and an amorphous material that is similar to the luminal material of the epididymal duct. In addition, larger multivesicular bodies are heterogenous in structure and possess bundles of tubules 40nm thick. There are dense bodies in the basal cytoplasm under the nucleus which appear to be transformed from the multivesicular bodies.
    In summary, occurrence of the micropapilla and the giant multivesicular bodies are considered to represent an activated breakdown of the material ingested from the duct lumen.
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  • Kazuhiro ABE, Hiroko TAKANO, Takashi ITO
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 137-147
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The efferent duct or the epididymal duct at the border between the caput and corpus epididymidis was cut or ligated in mice at the following stages: birth, 20 days, and 60 days of age. The epididymal duct of the corpus epididymidis was observed at 60 days of age after neonatal or juvenile operation and 4 weeks after the adult operation.
    1) After efferent duct interruption, the epididymal duct in the corpus possessed abundant PAS-positive material with no spermatozoa in the lumen, and the principal cells of the epithelium contained PAS-positive inclusions which were considered to be formed due to absorption of the PAS-positive material secreted by the principal cells in the caput epididymidis.
    2) Especially after interruption at the border between the caput and corpus epididymidis in juvenile mice, the epithelium of the epididymal duct in the corpus was much taller with peculiar pale, vacuolated cells. These cells were considered as abnormally differentiated forms of the principal cells.
    3) The occurrence of the PAS-positive inclusions and peculiar pale cells variea in frequency according to the level and age of interruption of the epididymal duct.
    The results suggest that the luminal contents produced in the proximal region of the duct may exert an influence on the differentiation of the principal cells of the epididymal duct.
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  • Masako OHATA
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 149-178
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Innervation of guinea pig livers was investigated by electron microscopy. Thinner unmyelinated autonomic nerves in the portal tract were found to contain many synaptic vesicles in their varicosities: small granular, agranular vesicles and a few large dense-cored vesicles, in addition to a few small mitochondria with sparse cristae, glycogen particles and occasional lysosomes. These adrenergic varicosities showed morphological signs suggesting emiocytotic release of transmitter substance through their naked surface into the portal space; they showed no synaptic contact with cells in the portal space. A cross section of a possible sensory nerve composed of several large axons filled with small mitochondria was identified in the portal space. Occasional large mitochondria-rich axon profiles, probably sensory in nature, were also present in the autonomic nerve. They seemed to be distributed in the hepatic parenchyme making large sensory terminals.
    In the Disse's spaces thin autonomic nerves composed of varicose axons were observed. Here also, the varicosities contained synaptic vesicles with adrenergic characteristics. Some of them freely terminated in the Disse's space suggesting the release of transmitter substance into the space, but the majority of them made synaptic contacts with hepatocytes. Ito cells received relatively numerous synaptic contacts from the adrenergic terminals. The sinusoidal endothelial lining received no synaptic contacts but only nerve approaches over a wide distance (“synapses per distance”). The Kupffer cell infrequently sent a cytoplasmic process into the Disse's space to form a synaptic contact with an axon varicosity.
    Presumed sensory terminals were characterized by their extraordinarily large sizes and by their contents of abundant small mitochondria with sparse cristae, glycogen particles and scanty small granular and agranular vesicles. These terminals closely contacted the Ito cell and/or hepatocyte.
    In guinea pig liver, only adrenergic varicosities or terminals were identified in addition to probable sensory terminals.
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  • Junzo DESAKI, Takashi FUJIWARA, Terumasa KOMURO
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 179-186
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Fibroblast-like cells of the rat intestinal villi were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. They were observed to be flattened and stellate in shape and had many slender processes. By means of intercellular attachments, the cells formed a network covering the microvascular tree of the villous core. Their cytoplasmic features essentially resembled those of fibroblasts. It is suggested that this three-dimensional network of fibroblast-like cells might act as a skeleton for the villi and also influence the efficiency of absorption and transportation of nutrients by its contraction.
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  • Ii-sei WATANABE, Eichi YAMADA
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 187-196
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The fine structure of an unusual type of nerve ending found in the subepithelial spaces of rat palatine mucosa is described. The endings, with their tortuous courses and terminal bulbous portions, form a complicated plexus. An unusually thick basal lamina of filamentous reticular structure envelops the Schwann cell ensheathing the endings. Several irregular microvillous projections extend from the axon terminals through gaps in the Schwann cell envelope. The nerve terminals present numerous mitochondria, microtubules, neurofilaments, myelin figures and clear vesicles approximatelly 50nm in diameter. The laminar cytoplasm of Schwann cells enveloping the nerve terminals shows a large number of caveolae. Desmosome-type junctions are noted between axons and Schwann cells.
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  • Tatsuo SUGANUMA, Shinichiro TSUYAMA, Shintaro SUZUKI, Fusayoshi MURATA
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 197-207
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The localization of lectin-binding sites in the rat gastric mucosa was investigated using horseradish peroxidase-labeled lectin conjugates (Con A, DBA, PNA, RCA-1, SBA, UEA-1, WGA). The glandular epithelium of the cardiac gland was clearly stained with DBA, PNA and SBA. Surface epithelium of the fundic glands was intensely labeled with SBA and UEA-1, but weakly with RCA-1, and WGA. Staining for foveolar cells was intense with SBA and moderate with PNA, while Con A and RCA-1 showed negligible reactivity. Mucous neck cells were intensely stained with SBA, moderately with PNA, weakly with Con A, RCA-1 and WGA, and only, faintly with DBA. Chief cells reacted positively only with WGA. Surface epithelium of the pyloric gland was moderately labeled with DBA, SBA and WGA, and faintly with the other lectins. Glandular epithelial cells, which revealed a similar pattern to that of the surface epithelium, were stained more intensely. The present study provides additional information for elucidating the cellular and regional differences in lectin binding to the rat gastric mucosa.
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  • Katsuko KATAOKA, Yumiko SAKANO
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 209-221
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Transitional changes in cell population and ultrastructure in the gastric mucosa can be clearly demonstrated by superwide-field electron microscopy. A few undifferentiated cells as well as immature forms of the surface mucous, mucous neck and parietal cells are present in the lower part of the isthmus or the upper part of the neck. Surface mucous cells and mucous neck cells show maturer morphology with their migration to the mucosal surface or to the deep part of the neck, respectively. Parietal cells may migrate either upwards or downwards. Immature chief cells appear in the uppermost part of the base and mature as they migrate towards the gland bottom. A transition from mucous neck cells to chief and parietal cells is suggested. Collagen fibers and fibroblasts are more numerous in the foveola and isthmus regions than in deeper parts of the mucosa. Smooth muscle fibers are separated from the muscularis mucosae and run perpendicularly to the mucosal surface.
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  • Takuro MURAKAMI, Tatsuya ITOSHIMA, Kusukuma HITOMI, Aiji OHTSUKA, Albe ...
    1984 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 223-237
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: October 26, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    A mixture of 50-60% monomeric methyl methacrylate and 40-50% monomeric 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate was supplemented with 1.5% benzoyl peroxide (catalyst) and 1.5% N, N-dimethylaniline (accelerator) and injected into glutaraldehyde-perfusion fixed rat hypophyseal and other endocrine organ blood vessels and biliary tracts. This injection medium rapidly polymerized at room temperature and did not require partial polymerization prior to injection. Good casts of blood vessels, including the hypophyseal capillaries, were obtained for scanning electron microscopy. The monomeric methacrylate medium possesses a great advantage over previous ones, as its fluidity enables the casting of very fine vessels such as bile canaliculi. In the case of non-fixed tissues, the monomeric methacrylate medium should be injected carefully, as it is toxic and destructive to the vessels.
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