S. Ohno

Three-dimensional and histochemical studies of peroxisomes in cultured hepatocytes by quickfreezing and deep-etching method

SummaryPrimary cultured mouse hepatocytes were treated with clofibric acid to induce peroxisome proliferation. They were briefly fixed with paraformaldehyde and centrifuged to prepare pellets. The hepatocytes were split open to remove cytoplasmic soluble proteins and fixed with glutaraldehyde. They were routinely incubated for catalase enzyme cytochemistry and fixed in osmium tetroxide. The specimens were quickly frozen, deeply etched and rotary shadowed by platinum and carbon. Peroxisomes were identified as osmium reaction products on replica membranes. In treated hepatocytes, the number of peroxisomes was considerably increased and smooth membranous structures resembling sER (referred to as ‘peroxisomeforming sheets’) showed hypertrophy. The rER associated with intermediate filaments was significantly decreased and ‘peroxisome-forming sheets’ appeared, being accompanied with budding and fragmentation of peroxisomes.

Immunocytochemical study on the cytoplasmic side of cell membranes infected with vesicular stomatitis virus by quick-freezing and deep-etching replica method

SummarySynthesized N protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is associated with replicated viral genomes in the infected cells. The cytoplasmic side of cell membranes was examined by quick-freezing and deep-etching replica method, in order to clarify the localization of VSV genomes. Control or infected monolayer Vero cells were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde, scraped and centrifuged to make pellets. A drop of the cell pellet was put between two glass coverslips, which were coated with 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane and glutaraldehyde. The cells were consequently split open and postfixed in the mixture of glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde. Some inside-out cell membranes on the coverslips were immunostained with anti-N monoclonal antibody directly coupled to gold particles. Others were immunostained with anti-N monoclonal antibody and rabbit anti-mouse IgG coupled to peroxidase and fixed again in glutaraldehyde. They were incubated in diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide solution for 1 min. All of them were infiltrated with 10% methanol in distilled water and quickly frozen in a mixture of isopentane and propane cooled by liquid nitrogen. Such preparations were deep-etched and shadowed by platinum and carbon. Although many cell organelles were found to be associated with the cytoplasmic side of cell membranes in the normal Vero cells, few cell organelles were attached to it in the infected cells. On the contrary, special strand structures were identified, which could be immunostained with anti-N monoclonal antibody. It is concluded that platinum replicas have sufficient resolution to identify the VSV genomes coated with N protein and that these nucleocapsids can be associated with the cytoplasmic side of cell membranes in the infected cells.

An Elevation of Plasma TSH Concentration in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR)

Summary Thyroid activity was tested in two substrains of SHR. Plasma level and pituitary content of TSH increased significantly in both substrains of SHR. As a result, the thyroid weight and thyroidal radioiodine uptake increased significantly. Plasma T3 concentration was decreased in Kyoto sub-strain but was normal in NN substrain, while plasma T4 concentration decreased significantly in both substrains. Since the pituitary content and plasma level of TSH were significantly higher in spite of the normal concentration of plasma T3, it is concluded that the pituitary “hormostat” is set at a higher level at least in the NN substrain of SHR.

Nucleic acid synthesis in proliferating peroxisomes of rat liver as revealed by electron microscopical radioautography

SummaryThirty albino rats were fed with a diet containing 1, 2 or 4% di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), a peroxisome-proliferating agent. Others were fed with normal diet as controls. Both groups were sacrificed at varying intervals from 3 days to 4 weeks. The livers were either removed and fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide or fixed in glutaraldehyde, incubated in a diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium, postfixed, embedded in Epon, and sectioned. Other tissues were incubated in Eaglés MEM containing either [3H]thymidine or [3H]uridine, fixed, embedded in Epon, sectioned, and radioautographed. Specimens were observed in a Hitachi H-700 electron microscope.The number of peroxisomes showing DAB reactivity increased in DEHP-fed animals as compared with normal controls In radioautograms of normal rats labelled with [3H]thymidine, no silver grains were, observed, whereas grains were observed over some nuclei, mitochondria and peroxisomes of DEHP-fed animals. In contrast, radioautograms of tissue labelled with [3H]uridine revealed a few grains in nuclei and mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum of normal rats, although grains appeared in nuclei, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes of DEHP-fed animals more frequently.From these results, it is concluded that [3H]thymidine and [3H]uridine were incorporated in the proliferating peroxisomes, suggesting that nucleic acid synthesis had taken place.

Mucosubstances of rabbit granulocytes studied by means of electron-microscopic radioautography and X-ray microanalysis.

SummaryRabbit bone marrow cells have been studied by means of light-and electron-microscopic radioautography and X-ray microanalysis. Carrier free sulfuric acid was used as the radioactive precursor in this experiment. Immature granulocytes showed more active incorporation than mature ones. Silver grains were observed in the Golgi apparatus and granules in three kinds of granulocytes. Electron-microscopically, immature granules showed the incorporation of inorganic sulfate, while mature ones did not. Sulfur was detected in all kinds of granules of the three granulocyte types by X-ray microanalysis. It is concluded that incorporated inorganic sulfur may be utilized for the synthesis of acid glycosaminoglycans and the sulfur detected by X-ray microanalysis may be that contained in the acid glycosaminoglycan. The sulfur detected in the specific granules of the heterophil probably derives from proteins or polypeptides incorporating sulfur containing amino acids.

Three-dimensional ultrastructure of anionic sites of the glomerular basement membrane by a quick-freezing and deep-etching method using a cationic tracer

SummaryThe ultrastructure of anionic sites in the lamina rara externa (LRE) of rat glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was studied in three dimensions by a quick-freezing and deep-etching method using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a cationic tracer. Results were compared with those obtained with conventional ultrathin sections examined by transmission electron microscopy. Examination with the quick-freezing and deep-etching method was done without (group 1) or with (group 2) contrasting/fixation with a phosphotungstic acid and glutaraldehyde mixture and post-fixation with osmium tetroxide, which were necessary for visualization of PEI particles by conventional ultrathin sections. Using the quick-freezing and deep-etching method without following contrasting/fixation and post-fixation (group 1), many PEI particles were observed to decorate around fibrils, which radiated perpendicularly from the lamina densa to connect with the podocyte cell membrane. The arrangement of PEI particles was not as regular as that previously reported using conventional ultrathin sections. In contrast, the tissue that was studied with quick-freezing and deep-etching followed by contrasting/fixation and post-fixation (group 2) showed a shrunken appearance. The arrangement of PEI particles was regular (about 20 particles/1000 nm of LRE) as that previously observed using conventional ultrathin sections. However, the number of PEI particles on the LRE was markedly decreased and interruption of decorated fibrils was prominent, as compared with group 1. Ultrastructural examination using conventional ultrathin sections with contrasting/fixation and post-fixation (group 3) demonstrated PEI particles on the LRE in reasonable amounts (18–21 particles/1000 nm of LRE) with fairly regular interspacing (45–65 nm) as reported previously.This is the first report to identify the three-dimensional ultrastructure of anionic sites of GBM, and provides new information on the location and distribution of anionic sites in the glomerular capillary wall. In addition, these studies suggest that several chemical procedures used in conventional transmission electron microscopy to visualize PEI tracers, may produce structural changes and disarrangement of PEI particles that can be avoided with the quick-freezing and deep-etching method.

Immunocytochemical study of the intracellular localization of M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus.

SummaryThe purpose of this paper is to describe the immunocytochemical localization of M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in infected cells. Vero cells, MDBK cells, Swiss 3T3 cells, and BHK cells were examined at various times after infection. For immunofluorescent staining, the cells were fixed with PLP fixative and then treated with 0.05% Triton X-100 before incubation with antibodies. Three hours after infection, M protein exhibited diffuse immunostaining throughout the cytoplasm and later accumulated along the cell membrane. The localization of M protein differed from the granular localization of the nucleocapsid N protein of VSV in the cytoplasm. For electron microscopy, the cells were fixed first in a mixture of 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.05% glutaraldehyde and then with PLP fixative, this being followed by treatment with 0.05% saponin. They were then immunostained using the immunoperoxidase method. The M protein was found to be distributed throughout the cytoplasm and later under the cell membrane, especially at virus budding sites. We also used postembedding immunostaining and freeze-fracture immunostaining to avoid the translocation of M protein caused by the detergent treatment. These techniques confirmed our previous results. Our findings are consistent with the view that the M protein of VSV is synthesized on free ribosomes and is then associated with the cell membrane where viral assembly may occur.

A modified wire-loop method for quantitative electron microscopic radioautography.

SummaryA simplified method of emulsion coating and development for quantitative electron microscopic radioautography without any special instrument is introduced.Seven grids carrying ultrathin sections are attached to a glass block with double-coated Scotch tape. They are coated with a wire-loop, 2.5 cm in diameter. Ten glass blocks are then stuck on a slide, exposed, developed, fixed and stained simultaneously.Employing this method, the emulsion coating and the following procedures are easily accomplished under an identical condition.

Immunocytochemical study of dystrophin in cultured mouse muscle cells by the quick-freezing and deep-etching method

SummaryDystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene, is deficient in patients with DMD and in mdx mice. It is immunocytochemically localized in skeletal muscle sarcolemma. However, little is known about the three-dimensional ultrastructural localization of dystrophin and its relationship with other cytoskeletal proteins. We found that dystrophin is localized irregularly, just underneath the plasma membrane in normal cultured mouse myotubes, by using the quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method; it was found to be closely linked to actin-like filaments (8–10 nm in diameter), most of which were decorated with myosin subfragment 1, and was attached to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. These results suggest that dystrophin might play an important role in the preservation of cell membrane stability by connecting actin cytoskeletons with the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane.

Ultrastructural localization of glycogen in the granulocytes of normal rabbit bone marrow.

SummaryThe glycogen of rabbit granulocytes has been studied in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide fixed bone marrow by the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate procedure (PA-TCH-SP). The PA-TCH-SP procedure involved the staining of intracytoplasmic glycogen more densely than the routine lead citrate staining. The PA-TCH-SP procedure demonstrated the intracytoplasmic glycogen in all three kinds of granulocytes. Though a sequence of intensity was observed in each stage of cell maturation, intracytoplasmic glycogen increased generally in accordance with cell maturation in the granulocytes. Functional significance of the glycogen in the granulocytes was discussed in relation to its staining. A very weak reaction in the granules of the granulocytes was described in relation to their contents.