New theory on the mechanism of erection involving hitherto undescribed vessels

47 cadaver penises were investigated by means of plastic, corrosion casts, direct dissection under a stereomicroscope, tissue clearing, and light microscopy. "Shunt" arteries connecting the deep arteries in the corpora cavernosa with vessels in the corpus spongiosum were found. When the penis is flaccid these arteries probably allow blood to pass through the corpora cavernosa directly into the veins of the corpus spongiosum. Constriction of the shunt arteries may divert blood through the helicine arteries into the spaces of the corpora cavernosa, thus producing tumescence and erection. 20 of the cadaver penises had no direct vascular connection between the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum or glans. This supports the hypothesis that such fistulae, which have been reported in impotent patients are pathological structures.

Kartagener's syndrome. Preliminary report on cilia structure, function, and upper airway symptoms

Our study was designed to examine the motility and ultrastructure of cilia from the nose of patients with Kartagener's syndrome. Microphoto-oscillographic recording from single cells showed that the patients had in fact motile cilia, although the number was reduced. Asynchrony within the single cell was a more consistent feature. The first results of blind, quantitative microscopy showed the ultrastructural defects, described earlier, but the overlapping with a normal control group was considerable. Only one of nine patients had no dynein arms and completely immotile cilia; an observation which renders the term "the immotile-cilia syndrome" a misnomer. The ear-nose-throat symptoms were characterized by daily nose-blowings since birth, recurrent sinusitis, and chronic secretory otitis media. On the other hand, the frequency of acute purulent otitis media and of common colds appeared to be normal.

Antigen-dependent physical interaction between human monocytes and T lymphocytes

The physical interaction between human monocytes and autologous T lymphocytes was studied in cultures of cells from tuberculin-sensitive individuals to which purified protein derivative of tuberculin had been added. Such cultures displayed formation of cell aggregates, each typically consisting of one or two monocytes to which several lymphocytes adhered by means of uropods. The capacity of monocyte-T-lymphocyte mixtures to produce this type of aggregate in response to tuberculin correlated with the tuberculin sensitivity of the cell donor as measured by skin test.

The fine structure of cells of Trichomonas vaginalis Donné obtained from the exponential phase of growth and from stationary cultures

In cells of Trichomonas vaginalis in logarithmic phase of growth (log. T. vaginalis) the number of free cytoplasmic ribosomes was higher than that in cells from stationary cultures (stat. T. vaginalis). Polyribosomes closely surrounding the chromatic granules were present in equal amounts in both categories fo cells, which indicates that they have specific functions and are not directly involved in the protein synthesis of the growing cell. The volume of the Golgi region and of the food vacules were approximately twice as large in log. T. vaginalis cells as in stat. T. vaginalis cells. The round and slightly ovoid chromatic granules were smaller in log. T. vaginalis cells than in stat. T. vaginalis cells, whereas elongated granules were more numerous in the former than in the latter cell type. The elongated chromatic granules presented a coarser texture than ordinary round granules. The chromatic granules probably replicate by binary fission a process which seem to follow an internal reorganization of the granules. Polysaccharides were demonstrated on the cell surface and on the membranes of the Golgi and endocytotic vesicles if sectioned cells were stained with phosphotungstic acid after inert dehydration and embedding in a water-missible methacrylate. Ruthenium red and colloidal iron only showed affinity for the filamentous cell coat.

The size, density, and relative area of chromatic granules ("hydrogenosomes") in Trichomonas vaginalis Donne from cultures in logarithmic and stationary growth

Electron micrographs of Trichomonas vaginalis cells were examined morphometrically by means of an electronic image analyser. Cells from cultures in logarithmic growth contained smaller chromatic granules ("hydrogenosomes") and a higher proportion of sausage- or dumb-bell-shaped granules than did cells in stationary growth. These findings support the view that chromatic granules replicate by division of pre-existing granules and that this involves elongation and attenuation of their mid-region. The total area of cross sectioned granules occupied the same percentage of the cytoplasm of cells from cultures in logarithmic and stationary growth. The density of chromatic granules in the cytoplasm was identical for the two groups of cells.

In vitro effect of metronidazole on the ultrastructure of Trichomonas vaginalis donné

The effect of metronidazole on the growth and fine structure of exponeentially growing cells of Trichomonas vaginalis was examined. Cell division stopped about one hour after the addition of 1-4 mug/ml of metronidazole, and the cells were apparently arrested in the interphase. One to two hours after the addition of metronidazole, the movement of flagella and of the undulating membrane had decreased, but cell death had not occurred until 7-8 hours later. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed 30 to 60 minutes after addition of metronidazole. Proportionally, the number of polyribosomes had decreased whereas the number of single ribosomes in the cytoplasm had increased. The electron-density of the cytoplasmic matrix was higher in cells which were treated with metronidazole than in cells from control cultures. The findings of the present study indicate that the initial effect of metronidazole on T. vag. cells in vitro is an inhibition of cell multiplication as well as an impairment of protein synthesis.

The ultrastructure of Trichomonas vaginalis donné before and after transfer from vaginal secretion to Diamonds medium

Cell of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vag.) obtained from five patients with severe trichomoniasis were fixed for electron microscopy directly in the vaginal fluid. Samples of the same material from three of the patients was inoculated into Diamonds medium and propagated for 3-6 weeks. During the first 3-4 weeks in vitro the fine structure of all cells was changed. The shape of the nucleus, the size of the Golgi apparatus and adjacent vesicles, the fine structure of the chromatic granules, and the mastigont were all changed when compared to the organelles of the originally isolated cells. In addition the "ectoplasm" had disappeared, the glycogen granules had become sparse, and the number of free cytoplasmic ribosomes had increased. On the other hand, the large food vacuoles and the cell membranes generally were unchanged. Mycoplasms were observed in the original isolate and were also seen after more than 6 weeks of propagation, both as free organisms in the culture medium and within the large food vacuoles of "in vitro" cultured cells.

Electron microscopy of Trichomonas vaginalis Donné: interaction with vaginal epithelium in human trichomoniasis

Light and electron microscopic examination of portio biopsies from eleven patients with trichomoniasis vaginalis revealed in four patients clusters of cells of T. vaginalis (T. vag.) which were attached to the vaginal mucosa. The minimum gap between adjacent trichomonad cells was the size of gap junctions (2 nm). Cells of T. vag. invaded superficially located epithelial cells but did not penetrate to the deeper cell layers of the epithelium. The latter, however, were frequently infiltrated with neutrophilic granulocytes. Contact between cells of T. vag. and neutrophils was not observed. Trichomonads which were attached to epithelial cells contained a dense network of cytoplasmic microfilaments in the part of the cell which came into contact with the epithelium. The remaining part contained the organelles normally seen in T. vag.. Endocytotic cell activity of amoeboid T. vag. occurred from the free cell surface only. A cell coat on the cell membrane--formed by bristles--was confined mainly to pinocytotic invaginations. Glycogen granules which were absent from the larger part of the epithelium were densely packed in the trichomonad cells. The findings in this study indicate that the interaction between the cells of T. vag. and the vaginal epithelium takes place primarily at a distance probably by means of substances released into the vaginal fluid, and secondly by a direct cell contact mechanism.

Macrophage-lymphocyte clusters in the immune response to soluble protein antigen in vitro. II. Ultrastructure of clusters formed during the early response

Macrophage-lymphocyte clusters are formed when lymph node cells and autologous peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs immunized with tubercle bacilli are cultured in the presence of purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) for 20 h. We have studied the ultrastructure of these clusters employing transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The most simple macrophage-lymphocyte cluster consisted of one macrophage, one large central lymphocyte with a blastoid appearance attached to the macrophage with a broad area of contact, and from a few to more than 20 small peripheral lymphocytes attached to the central lymphocyte by their uropods. Some clusters were of more complex type, containing two or three macrophages or one macrophage with more than one central lymphocyte attached to the surface, but even in these clusters each peripheral lymphocyte was attached only to one central lymphocyte. By morphological criteria the peripheral lymphocytes were T lymphocytes.