The use of fluorescein diacetate to assess embryo viability in the mouse

Preimplantation mouse embryos that were exposed to fluorescein diacetate (FDA) accumulated intracellular fluorescein and fluoresced brightly under ultraviolet (u.v.) light. The rate at which intracellular fluorescein was lost from the cells was measured at 37, 28 and 4 degrees C and the rate decreased as the storage temperature decreased. The rate at which intracellular fluorescein accumulated increased as FDA concentration increased until a maximum rate was attained. The ability to accumulate intracellular fluorescein could be removed by heating embryos at 56 degrees C for 30 min or by damaging the cell membrane. Cells grown under inadequate culture conditions lost the ability to accumulate intracellular fluorescein. Exposure of 2-cell mouse embryos to FDA and u.v. light did not alter the rate of blastocyst formation in vitro, and exposure of blastocysts to FDA and u.v. light did not alter the rate of implantation or post-implantation development in vivo.

[State of the contractile apparatus during the development of a pathological process in the muscles. III. The nature and sequence of the structural changes in the contractile apparatus in Zenker's necrosis]

Using polarized ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence microscopy, it was shown that the local damage of muscle fibres causes in their morphologically unchanged parts the alternation of regions, being in different functional states referred to as "pseudocontraction" and "superrelaxation". The pattern of UV fluorescence anisotropy suggests that conformation of contractile proteins by "pseudocontraction" is similar to that at contraction, though changes in sarcomere length do not occur. The "superrelaxation" is characterized by a desorganization of myofilaments. During the spreading of Zenker's necrosis, the "pseudocontraction" is seen transferred first into "superrelaxation", and then into irreversible contracture and rigor. "The boundary of Zenker's necrosis" overlaps with the boundary of the self-propagating irreversible contracture. There is no proper boundary of Zenker's necrosis, because the destructive changes are observed over all the muscle fibre. Contraction nodules arise in the regions of "superrelaxation" and follow the changes of the contractile system, peculiar of contracture. The study of the influence of medium ionic composition on the development of Zenker's necrosis suggests that the arising and spreading of destruction are inseparably associated with the irreverrsible changes of intracellular membrane structures, and with the possibility of propogation of the damage signal by these structures along muscle fibres.

Acquired lipidosis of marrow macrophages: birefringent blue crystals and Gaucher-like cells, sea-blue histiocytes, and grey-green crystals

Three varieties of compound lipid inclusions occurring as a secondary phenomenon in marrow macrophages are detectable and distinguishable by Romanowsky staining, ultraviolet fluorescence, and polarised light. Birefringent blue crystals and Gaucher-like cells form one variety, sea-blue granules another, and grey-green crystals a third. All occur chiefly in myeloid leukaemias, either acute or chronic.

[Nature of the orientation of the tryptophan residues in the myosin and actin from striated muscle fiber]

The mode of tryptophan residue orientation in myosin and action myofilaments of the muscle fiber was studied using polarized ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent microscopy of the muscle fiber was studied using polarized ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent microscopy technique. During an elective extraction of proteine from thick and thin myofillaments changes in UV fluorescence anisotropy of muscle fibers were detected, thus suggesting that tryptophanil residues in myosin may be oriented by their own short axes mostly parallel, but in actin--perpendicular to the muscle fiber axis. The use of acrylamide, an UV fluorescence quencher, is proposed for the control of extraction electivity of proteins from muscle fibers.

[Polarized ultraviolet fluorescence microscopic study of the structural changes in muscle fiber contractile proteins. V. The possible nature of the conformational rearrangements in heavy meromyosin in fiber relaxation]

The mode and degree of tryptophanyl orientation relative to muscle fiber axes within hydrophobic and hydrophylic sites of myosin macromolecule in the presence of a fluorescence quencher (acrylamide, NO-3) during rigor and relaxation of glycerinated muscle fibers were studied using the polarized ultraviolet fluorescent microscopy. It was shown that myosin tryptophanyls both in LMM and HMM are oriented with their short axes along the longer axis of muscle fiber. Tryptophanyls in LMM have a more pronounced anisotropy of orientation in comparison with the fluorophore orientation anisotropy in hydrophobic sites of HMM. During the muscle fiber relaxation, conformational changes in HMM take place owing to which a section of polypeptide chain with a hydrophilic fluorophore is probably submerged deep into the macromolecule and becomes unapprochable to the quencher.

[Study of structural changes in muscle fiber contractile proteins using polarization ultraviolet fluorescent microscopy. IV. Several features of the conformational changes in F-actin during muscle fiber relaxation]

Using the polarized ultraviolet fluorescent microscopy in the presence of a fluorescence quencher (acrylamide, NO3-) it has been shown that actin tryptophanyls are oriented with their short axes perpendicular to the long axis of the thin filament. Fluorophores in hardly accessible sites of the macromolecule have a more pronounced anisotrophy of orientation in comparison with those in the protein sites easily available by a fluorescence quencher. During the muscle fiber relaxation, conformational changes of F-actin take place which embrace seemingly the sites of subunits, close to the surface of macromolecule, and make difficult the penetration of univalent ions and neutral molecules deep into the protein macromolecule. Some connection between conformational changes of the surface areas of F-actin subunits and the actin incapability of combining with HMM in the presence of ATP is assumed.

The microscopic pattern of tetracycline fluorescence in the cementum of human teeth

Ultraviolet microscopy of longitudinal non-decalcified sections revealed fluorescence characteristic of in vivo tetracycline deposition in the cementum of 55 out of 378 human permanent teeth. Patterns of fluorescence could be related to various stages in root development and to pathological events, as well as to the approximate duration of drug intake. Cementum lines formed during apposition of primary root dentin were associated with dentin bands and met the latter at the cemento-dentinal junction: other lines corresponded to incremental cementum apposition after completion of the root. Label was also visualized in localized areas of cementum hyperplasia and in repaired resorption lacunae. Discontinuities in broad fluorescent lines at or near the cementum surface were related to lack of connective tissue attachment when drug exposure occurred, or with subsequent root caries. Observations suggest that typical short, single periods of antibiotic therapy are recorded in the cementum, although marginally or close to the limit of resolution in some cases. Longer, chronic administration or multiple short regimens closely spaced in time are clearly registered. Study of these patterns may be useful in clinical periodontal research.

[The influence of capillary permeability on the extravascular protein quantities as measured in situ (author's transl)]

The extravascular protein contents in the perivascular connective tissue of a rat's mesenterial plate was measured ultramicrospectrophotometrically in situ and in vivo after changing the hydrostatic and colloidosmotic pressures of the blood. We analized the perivascular area of the different microcirculatory vessels, arterioles, capillaries and venules. The perivascular protein contents, which corresponds besides arterioles to 40% and besides venules to 59% in comparison to the intravascular blood plasma, decreased in a comparison group under the osmotic influence of the perfusion liquid on the mesenterial plate. An injection of an isotonic saline solution is followed only by small fluctuations of the perivascular protein contents during one hour. After blood loss a transitional increase of extravascular protein at the perivenular area was observed indicating the mobilisation of protein depots. Around arterioles the extravascular protein contents did not change significantly. An intravenous injection of albumin solution was followed by a short-termed increase of tissue protein around the arterioles. Around the venules after 50 minutes the extravascular protein contents increased significantly. Within one hour after the changes of the permeability conditions the maximal induceable protein movements in the perivascular space were calculated as +/- 1.35 g% plasma protein concentration corresponding to a maximun protein exchange of +/- 3.1 mg ml(-1) tissue.

A combined autoradiography--immunofluorescence technique for the study of lymphocyte traffic in relation to antigen localisation

A combined autoradiography-immunofluorescence method is described for the simultaneous detection of antigens and lymphoid cells on cryostat tissue sections. The method is discussed here with reference to studies on cell traffic and antigen localisation in the chicken spleen.

Location of U.V.-absorbing substance in isolated skeletal muscle fibres. The effect of stimulation

1. In an attempt to study the intracellular location of ATP in skeletal muscle the distribution of substances which absorb light at 260 nm wave-length has been studied in isolated muscle fibres with the aid of a modified U.V.-microscope.2. U.V.-absorption in resting frog fibres was found to be higher in the I band than in the A band which confirms earlier findings. In stretched fibres (sarcomere length 2.9-3.6 mum) an absorbing substance could be seen to be concentrated in a pair of narrow lines, centred at the Z-line. The separation of the lines increased with increasing sarcomere length.3. Snake fibres, with sparse triads located at the A-I junction, displayed an absorption pattern very similar to that of frog fibres. It is concluded that it is unlikely that the absorbing substance is associated with the sarcotubular system.4. The absorption pattern of frog fibres remained unchanged during a tetanus. No clear changes could be detected after a period of stimulation, neither after single twitches nor after repeated tetani.5. In further attempts to cause exhaustion, metabolically poisoned fibres were stimulated repetitively until they went into rigor. The absorption pattern was essentially unchanged also when rigor tension started to develop.6. The characteristic absorption pattern was observed also in glycerol-extracted fibres. It was confirmed by spectrophotometry that glycerol-extraction led to the disappearance of a large amount of a substance with the spectral characteristics of ATP.7. The higher U.V.-absorption in the I band does not prove that the major part of the ATP in the fibre is concentrated here; the absorption could either be due to a minor fraction of the ATP or to RNA.

Procion brilliant orange, a counterstain for decalcified sections vitally labeled with procion brilliant red H-8 bs

Procion brilliant red H-8 BS is a fluorescent dye that stains the organic matrix of bone supravitally. A procedure is described for counterstaining sections of such bone for visible light examination without interfering with the demonstration of sites of bound dye under UV illumination. Sections are brought to water, stained in Delafield's alum hematoxylin for 10 minutes, washed in tap water for 10 minutes, counterstained in 1% Procion brillant orange M-GS for 15 minutes and washed in distilled water for 10 minutes. After dehydration the sections were mounted in Eukitt.

[Intensity of ultraviolet fluorescence of the cells depending on their size]

Using the light microscope, a correlation between ultra-violet fluorescence intensity of the cell and the cell area was established. This correlation does not depend on the large aperture of the microscope. A possible cause of this correlation is supposed to be either the proportionality between the mass of cytoplasmic protein and the squared cell radius, or a high optical density of cell elements.

[Demonstration of air inclusions in human hair by light and UV microscopy (author's transl)]

Cranial hairs of 47 randomly selected probands were examined for the presence of air inclusions by conventional light microscopy and by short-wave ultraviolet-light microscopy. The air inclusions seen in UV light stand out as brightly luminous regions against the surrounding hair substance. Two sorts of air inclusions were observed-strips-like or cleft-like regions running parallel to the longitudinal axis localized inthe cortex of the hair and air containing pores on the hair surface. The presence and amount of the air inclusions is independent of the hair colour.

Tetracyclines and mineralized tissues: review and perspectives

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Ultrastructural evolution of nucleoli of female rat germ cells

The nucleoli of oogonia and oocytes of rat ovaries during fetal and neonatal life were studied by light and electron microscopy. An evolution from atypical to typical nucleoli was shown. Nucleoli undergo a gradual increase in size and change from dense fibrillar bodies to complete nucleoli with pars fibrosa, pars granulosa, pars amorpha, and associated chromatin.

Immunology of cartilage in septic arthritis

Septic arthritis in one knee joint was produced in 18 rabbits, the contralateral knee being left intact. Sections stained with fluorescein conjugated anti-IgG and with fluorescein conjugated anti-IgM showed layers of immunoglobulins on the articular cartilage in 16 out of 17 injected joints, and 10 out of 17 supposedly "normal" knee joints. Concurrent tests for circulating anti-staphylococcal alpha-lysin gave negative results. Cultures of synovial fluids were negative. These observations suggest that articular cartilage may act as an auto-antigen; immunological mechanisms involved may be due to the combined activity of both cell-bound and humoral antibodies. There are 2 components to a septic arthritis, the primary being a bacterial and the secondary immunologic in nature.

[Study of the structure of colonies of active and inactive Actinomyces parvullus variants using luminescence and scanning microscopy]

The colony structure of the active and inactive proactinomycete-like variants of Actinomyces parvullus producing actinomycin D was studied with luminescent and scanning microscopy. Clear differentiation of the colony profile was shown by the structure and functions of the mycelium layers. A zone of active synthesis and accumulation of the antibiotic was observed in the colonies of the active variant in the upper part of the substrate mycelium with reddish-yellow self luminescence in UV light and characteristic close hyphae "cemented" by the intracellular substance. Formations of the granule type were often noted on the hyphae of that layer. The layer of the aerial mycelium was loosely connected with the substrate mycelium and consisted of sporophores and spore chains partially broken into single spores. The colonies of the inactive proactinomycete-like variant had a slightly differentiated profile with a sponge-like structure, no zones of the antibiotic synthesis being found. The presence of the intracellular substance was observed in the upper part of the colony supersubstrate mycelium.

Syndrome and pancreatic disease, subcutaneous fat necrosis and polyserositis. Case report and review of literature

Immunologic evaluation of a patient with pancreatitis, subcutaneous fat necrosis, pleuritis, pericarditis and synovitis is presented. The previously recognized syndrome of pancreatic disease, subcutaneous fat necrosis and arthritis is reviewed. Based on analysis of all the cases described in the English language literature it is suggested that this syndrome be expanded to include polyserositis rather than arthritis alone. Although experimental and clinical evidence tends to implicate physiocochemical tissue injury by pancreatic lipase as the primary pathogenic mechanism in this syndrome, studies in our patient suggest the possible contribution of immune-mediated injury. Supporting data include eosinophilia, biopsy demonstration of vasculitis antedating the subcutaneous fat necrosis, immunofluorescent identification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3 in the pleura, and reduced levels of total hemolytic complement in the serum, and pleural and pericardial effusions.

On the relationship between tetracycline and the incremental lines in dentine

Ground and decalcified sections of human, goat and pig teeth were examined using polarized and ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy, microradiography and electron microscopy. The experimental animals were given doses of tetracycline within the range 3-150 mg/kg. After the low doses there was no evidence of any disturbance of mineralization or of structural organization in either the goat or the pig. After the higher doses, however, the tetracycline lines usually corresponded with a disturbance of structural organization and often with a disturbance of mineralization as well. In the human cases, the tetracycline lines sometimes corresponded with a disturbance of mineralization or of structural organization. However, our evidence suggests that the disturbances in the structure or mineralization of the dentine in the human subjects were not caused by the tetracycline. It was concluded that, provided the dose is kept low (3-31 mg/kg) tetracycline can be used as a reliable non-toxic marker in growth studies and is also used in the study of mineral deposition.

On the configuration of incremental lines in human dentine as revealed by tetracycline labelling

The pattern of tetracycline labelling in dentine was investigated in ground sections of human teeth under visible and ultraviolet light. The tetracycline lines presented different appearances near the enamel-junction region, near the dentine-cementum junction, in the mantle dentine, and in the circumpulpal dentine, depending on whether the mineralization front was linear, globular or linear-globular.

Affinity of cellular constituents of two bacteria for fluorescent brighteners

Two fluorescent brighteners were used to stain an isolate of Bacillus cereus var. mycoides and soil pseudomonad. The stained organisms were fractionated by two procedures to determine which cellular constituents were reacting with the brighteners. Both fractionation procedures provided evidence that the brighteners were adsorbed to proteins within the cells. Microscopy examination of ghost cells of the bacillus showed that cell walls were not being stained. Spheroplasts of the bacillus and the pseudomonad were stained by the brighteners.

[Study of human chromosomes using fluorescence technics]

Fluorescent techniques permitted us to draw up a system of banding of human chromosomes, using quinacrine derivatives. This procedure may be used to measure the density of the chromosomes. Recently, other techniques which use various fluorochromes after denaturation, have been developed. The latter, which use acridine orange, give remarkably reliable and reproducible results. These techniques are particularly useful for the analysis of structural changes in the chromosomes. Their use is illustrated by a certain number of observations where they permitted the authors to determine the type of structural change and identify the chromosomes involved. The method of constitution and significance of the fluorescent bands is very controversial. It is not clearly known whether the fluorochromes combine with DNA or with protein bound to the latter. In spite of this uncertainty, the existence of heterogeneity in the structure of the chromatids at the metaphase provides new information for the understanding of chromosome organisation.

Active transport of exogenous S-adenosylmethionine and related compounds into cells and vacuoles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae 4094-B (alpha, ade-2, ura-1) in potassium phosphate buffer with glucose under aerobic conditions took up (-)S-adenosyl-l-methionine from the medium in sufficient quantity to permit the demonstration of its accumulation in the vacuole by ultraviolet micrography. The same result was obtained with (+/-)S-adenosyl-l-methionine, (+/-)S-adenosyl-d-methionine, and (-)S-adenosyl-l-ethionine. The rate of uptake was slow with (-)S-adenosyl-S(n-propyl)-l-homocysteine and S-adenosyl-d-homocysteine. S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine was assimilated rapidly, but intracellular degradation precluded accumulation and ultraviolet micrographic studies. The uptake of 5'-methyl-, 5'-ethyl-, 5'-n-propylthioadenosine, and 5'-dimethylsulfonium adenosine was minimal.

Cytogenetic and linkage studies of a familial 15pplus variant

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A light and electron microscopic study of the liver in case of erythrohepatic protoporphyria and in griseofulvin-induced porphyria in mice

The light- and electron-microscopic appearances of a liver biopsy from a case of erythrohepatic protoporphyria are compared with the appearances of the liver in griseofulvin-induced porphyria in mice. Crystals are present in hepatocytes and in the bile secretory pathways in each case. The nature and significance of these is discussed.

Deoxyribonucleic acid cytochemistry for automated cytology

Fluorescent staining for intracellular deoxyribonucleic acid content is being investigated as a means of making automated measurements quantitative and reliable. Ambiguities regarding the role of sulfur dioxide in Feulgen staining chemistry have been resolved showing that: (a) SO2 does not covalently bind to the anilinium moieties of pararosaniline; (b) SO2 does promote the binding of pararosaniline within the nuclei of hydrolyzed cells; (c) SO2 also does not bind to dyes such as acriflavine used in fluorescent-"Feulgen" staining and (d) SO2 is not required for strong, nucleus-specific acriflavine staining of nuclei of hydrolyzed cells. These findings permit simplifications of the usual fluorescent-"Feulgen" procedures. Attempts to use fluorescent intercalating dyes as vital stains for deoxyribonucleic acid content have been unsuccessful.

Computer-oriented analysis of human chromosomes. IV. Deoxyribonucleic acid-based centromeric index

A density-oriented semiautomatic method to estimate centromeric index is described and tested on 4611 human chromosomal images. Chromosomes are stained for deoxyribonucleic acid with gallocyanin-chrome alum and their optical density is recorded by a digital scanning microscope. Shape information in the chromosome boundary leads to a provisional centromeric position. The chromosome is divided into strips 0.25-0.35 µm wide paralleling the centromere. Optical density is integrated within each strip, strips are assembled into a density profile and the definitive centromere is located at the major local minimum in the profile. Centromeric index (large arm:total) is based on optical density or area. A test set of 4611 chromosomal images is based on over 2500 chromosomes (56 metaphase cells from six individuals) and excludes overlapped and excessively bent chromosomes. The program fails in 1.2% of the test images. Standard deviation within chromosome groups of centromeric index based on density is 0.024 and replication error is 0.016. Systematic differences between area-based and density-based measurements are observed and interpreted.

Techniques applicable to computer-aided cytophotometry in virology

Computer-aided cytophotometry is a new tool in the analysis of virus-infected cells. Structural changes of the cell morphology can easily be recognized and interpreted by the analytic systems available. More specific biochemical events that occur during virus replication can in certain instances be recorded and recognized if well defined trace markers are applied. This is demonstrated on poliomyelitis virus-infected HeLa cells.

Aflatoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus detected by fluorescence of agar medium under ultraviolet light

The fluorescence method of detecting aflatoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus and related species utilizes the ultraviolet-induced fluorescence of aflatoxin produced in a modified Czapek's solution agar containing corn steep liquor, HgCl(2), and (NH(4))H(2)PO(4) instead of NaNO(3). The presence of aflatoxin is confirmed by thin-layer chromatography of CHCl(3) extracts of the fluorescing agar.

Serotypes of trachoma agent isolated in the Gambia: with an observation on the relation between serotype and morphology

Of 60 TRIC agents isolated from Gambian children with trachoma, 25 were serotype 1 and the remainder type 2. There was a pronounced difference in the proportions of these types in the two villages studied. In the village with a predominance of type 2 strains, TRIC agents remained confined to 2 adjacent compounds over a 14 month observation period. All 19 type 1 strains examined were characterized by the appearance in yolk sac smears of compact aggregates of elementary bodies; such aggregates were seen in only 2 of 35 type 2 strains, and may reflect a chemical difference in the surface of the elementary bodies or in a substance elaborated during their replication.

Examination of isolated yeast cell vacuoles for active transport

Isolated vacuoles of the yeast Candida utilis did not show active transport of S-adenosylmethionine, uric acid, and several amino acids which they concentrate in vivo.