Ultrastructural Localization of Cryptosporidium parvum Antigen Using Human Patients Sera

The antigen location of Cryptosporidium parvum, which stimulates antibody formation in humans and animals, was investigated using infected human sera. Immuno-electron microscopy revealed that antigenicity-inducing humoral immunity was located at various developmental stages of parasites, including asexual, sexual stages, and oocysts. The amount of antigen-stimulating IgG antibodies was particularly high on the oocyst wall. The sporozoite surface was shown to give stimulation on IgG and IgM antibody formation. Trophozoites implicated the lowest antigenicity to humoral immunity, both IgG and IgM, by showing the least amount of gold labeling. Immunogold labeling also provided clues that antigens were presented to the host-cell cytoplasm via feeder organelles and host-parasite junctions.

An Immuno-Electron Microscopic Study for Apoptosis and Expression of p53 on the Synovium of the Osteoarthritic Knee in Human / 대한해부학회지

This study was designed to observe the apoptosis and expression of p53 in the osteoarthritic synovial membrane compared with normal synovial membrane of human. The collected normal and osteoarthritic synovia were dissected and fixed for two hours (in 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution). In this study, TUNEL staining and immunocytochemical gold labeling techniques were used. In the immunocytochemical gold labeling techniques, primary antibodies which was to be monoclonal mouse anti-p53 were used. Donkey anti-mouse IgG tagged with 6 nm colloidal gold particles was used as the secondary antibody. The tissues were observed under JEOL 1200 EX-II transmission electron microscope. The results were as follows. 1. On TUNEL staining, normal synovium were not seen TUNEL positive signal cells. But, in the osteoarthritic synovium, few TUNEL positive cells were seen in synovial membrane and subsynovial layers. 2. On the transmission electron microscopic observation, normal synovium had 1~3 synovial cell layers, which had phagocytic synovial cells and secretory synovial cells. The osteoarthritic synovium had 2~5 synovial cell layers, which consisted with abnormally proliferated secretory synovial cells. These cells had heterochromatin in nucleus and well developed endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm. 3. On the normal synovium of the human knee joint, p53 positive cells were not identified. But, in the osteoarthritic synovium of the human knee joint, p53 positive cells were identified. These cells were recognized secretory synovial cells and apoptotic cells. In the secretory synovial cells, the distributions of p53 were mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum. In the apoptotic cells, p53 were marked on rough endoplasmic reticulum, which showed secretory synovial cells. On the basis of above findings, it is obvious that osteoarthritic synovial membrane has identified the apoptotic cells compared with normal synovium. These apoptotic cells might be identified as mainly secretory synovial cells and a few phagocytic synovial cells. The immunogold of p53 was marked at rough endoplasmic reticulum and in nucleus of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis in the osteoarthritic synovium seemed to be developed through p53 negative dependent pathway.

Desmosome and intermediate filament assembly during differentiation and stratification of epithelial cells.

In the present investigation the sequential expression and organization of keratin intermediate filament proteins were studied in the developing rat palatal epithelia starting from early gestation period to the adult. The distribution and organization of keratin proteins were correlated with the formation and elaboration of desmosornes during differentiation and stratification of the epithelia.

SOMATOSTATIN IN SYNAPTIC STRUCTURES OF SUBSTANTIA GELATINOSA OF THE SPINAL CORD / 解剖学报

The distribution of somatostatin (SRIF) in substantia gelatinosa of the rat spinal cord was studied by means of immuno-electron microscopy. The ultrastructural features showed that nerve terminals containing SRIF take part in forming presynap- tie elements of axe-somatic, axe-dendritic and axo-axonic synapses. The immune- reactive products locatl at the external membrane of mitochondria, around the small clear synaptie vesicles and in the large granular vesicles. Most of synaptic vesicles are round or ovoid in shape. Only a few of them are flattened. Based on the ultrastructural characteristics mentioned above and related experimental results the authors believe that SRIF in substantia gelatinosa of the rat spinal cord is probably involved as a neurotransmitter instead of neuromodulator.