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Many Mitochondria (many + mitochondria)
Selected AbstractsUltrastructural clues for the potent therapeutic effect of melatonin on aging skin in pinealectomized ratsFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Mukaddes E Abstract Recently we have reported a significant reduction in the thickness of epidermis and epidermis + dermis in the back, abdominal and thoracic skin of the long-term pinealectomized rats and the potent therapeutic effect of melatonin on the pinealectomy-induced morphometric changes. The present study was aimed to determine the fine structure of the abdominal and thoracic skin in pinealectomized rats and the effect of melatonin on skin ultrastructure. Rats were pinealectomized or sham operated (control) for 6 months. Half of the pinealectomized rats were treated with 4 mg/kg melatonin during the last month of the experiment. Pinealectomy resulted in prominent ultrastructural changes in the skin. Epidermal atrophy, disorganization and cytological atypia were obvious. Tonofilament distribution was not uniform, and intercellular space was narrow. Nuclear irregularity and heterochromatin condensation were detected. Many mitochondria were irregular and edematous with increased translucence of the matrix, either partial or total destruction of crests and frequently the presence of vacuoles, myelin figures and dense bodies. Microprojections of basal cells into the dermis were observed. The dermis was thin, and collagenous fibers were loosely arranged. The epidermis in melatonin administered pinealectomized rats was obviously thicker than that of pinealectomized rats. The cells of each layers had characteristic morphological and ultrastructural features. Nuclear irregularity and heterochromatin condensation were not seen. Mitochondria were generally normal in ultrastructural appearance but rarely vacuoles and myelin figures were observed. The dermis was thick, and collagenous fibers were closely packaged. This paper provides an additional ultrastructural evidence that the damage to mitochondria is the major contributory factor to skin aging and that melatonin has potent therapeutic effects in reducing age-related changes via protecting fine structure of the skin. [source] Morphology and ultrastructure of the malpighian tubules of the Chilean common tarantula (Araneae: Theraphosidae)JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 1 2002S. Renee Hazelton Abstract Relatively little is known about the morphology and ultrastructure of the Malpighian tubules of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Our study represents the first investigation of the Malpighian tubules of a theraphosid spider and is the only study to examine the living Malpighian tubules using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In theraphosid spiders, the Malpighian tubules originate from the stercoral pocket in the posterior portion of the opisthosoma and extend forward toward the prosoma in a dendritic pattern. There are three distinct segments (initial, main, and terminal), all dark brown in appearance. Each segment has distinctive ultrastructural features. Both the terminal and the main segment appear to be composed of at least two cell types with finger-like cytoplasmic protrusions associated with one of these types. The terminal segment, which is most proximal to the stercoral pocket, is the largest in diameter. It is composed of large, cuboidal cells containing many mitochondria and lipid inclusions. The main segment is intermediate in diameter with many mitochondria and secretory vesicles present. The initial segment is relatively thin in comparison to the other segments and is intimately associated with the digestive gland. The cells of the initial segment contain very little cytoplasm, fewer mitochondria, secretory vesicles, and prominent inclusions. J. Morphol. 251:73,82, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Ultrastructural changes in feline dental pulp with periodontal diseaseMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 5 2003Jamileh Ghoddusi Abstract A light and transmission electron microscopic study was conducted on dental pulp on cats suffering periodontal disease. After extraction, pulp tissues were fixed and embedded in Epon-Araldite. Thick layers of predentin (50 ,m) and odontoblasts (30 ,m) were observed. In thin sections, odontoblasts showed many mitochondria and secretary vesicles. Some capillaries with several fenestrations were located within the odontoblastic layer. All the sections of pulp examined displayed a generalized infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells. Fibroblasts displayed lytic changes in some areas. These findings imply that the pulp is significantly affected by periodontal disease and furcation-involved teeth should be a carefully considered factor when dental treatment is planned. Microsc. Res. Tech. 61:423,427, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Trachea in the One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2007A. R. Raji Summary Histology of trachea of camel (Camelus dromedarius) was studied using light, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tissue samples taken from the trachea (proximal, middle and distal part) were routinely prepared for histology (LM, EM) and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Van Giesson (VG), Alcian blue, Periodic acid schiff (PAS), Masson's trichrome (MT), Verhof, PAS,VG and PAS,MT. The trachea of camel consists of 66,75 incomplete cartilaginous rings of hyaline. The lamina epithelium is composed of pseudostratified-ciliated columnar epithelium with many goblet cells. Submucosal layers were loose connective tissue with many elastic fibres. The mucosal and submucosal layers were 517.2 ± 61.6 ,m (n = 20) thick. Submucosal glands were tubuloalveolar with mucous (acidic and neutral) secretions. Trachealis muscle was attached to the inside sheet of tracheal cartilage. Ultrastructural studies showed that surface epithelium is pseudostratified with mucus-producing goblet cells, ciliated and basal cells, similar to other mammals. The ciliated cells contained many mitochondria, oval nucleus and many big granules. In scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies, viscoelastic layers were observed on the epithelial surface of trachea, and there were highly condensed cilia under this layer. [source] Support for the idea that light is a risk factor in optic neuropathies, like glaucomaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2007NN OSBORNE Purpose: Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons in the globe contain many mitochondria and it has been hypothesised that light can interact with these organelles to affect RGC survival in glaucoma. Studies on different cell-types were conducted to support such a proposition. Methods: Near confluent cultures of RGC-5 cells, primary rat retinal cultures, fibroblasts with normal (BJhTERT) or mitochondria depleted of mtDNA (rho0) were transferred to incubators containing light (400-760nm; 800-2000 lux; generally 2 days). Some of the cultures were covered with white paper to exclude the light. The cultures were then analysed for cell viability, generation of free radicals (ROS) and for death by apoptosis. Results: Oxidative status and mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity in retinal cultures (-40±5%), RGC-5 cells (-20±4%) and BJhTERT cells (-13±3%) was reduced significantly by light. Light reduced the number of GABA-positive neurones (-42±6%) in retinal cultures. Light caused a 3-5 fold increase in TUNEL-positive cells in primary retinal, RGC-5 and BJhTERT cultures, than in the dark. ROS staining was also clearly elevated by light. The light-induced toxic effect on the different cell types was significantly blunted by antioxidants like vitamin E and lipoic acid. Moreover, light-induced apoptosis was caspase independent but PARP dependent. In contrast, rho0 cells that lacked functional mitochondria were unaffected by light. Conclusions: The present study shows that light can directly affect mitochondrial function to induce apoptosis. This supports the view that light can interact with the many RGC axon mitochondria to affect the viability of GCs and that this may be of significance in the progression of glaucoma. [source] |