• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.511-522
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• 1999

The Leydig cell found within the interstitium of the testis is important in the spermatogenesis. The differentiation of Leydig cell, even though relatively well known in animals, is not fully elucidated yet in human. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformations were studied using light and transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Leydig cells in humans. Leydig cells could be classified as 4 types: fusiform, light, dark, and degenerating cells. The most immature cell was the fusiform cells found frequently at 14 weeks, which seemed to differentiate successively into light and dark cells. Light cells were most frequently found at 17 weeks and dark cells at 24 weeks. Light cells were found to have mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticuli (sER) most prominently than any other cell types. The lumen of sER became to be expanded with age. Some electron-dense inclusions were observed in the mitochondrial matrix of the dark cells. Lipid droplets found more in light cells than dark cells were most prominent at 16 weeks and gradually decreased after 20 weeks. Glycogen particles were rich in dark cells. Degenerating cells were most frequently found at 27 weeks. From the results, it is suggested that Leydig cells in human fetal testes undergo similar differentiation process af in animals.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.437-450
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• 1999

Bile canaliculi are the structure delivering bile secreted by hepatocytes into the bile passage. Bile secretion is mainly controlled by the cytoskeletal elements, mainly of actin in the microvilli, pericanalicular web. Most studies on the bile secretion have been done in viva situation, however, to control the various parameters in vitro culture system seem to be more useful. To set up an in vitro experimental system, the investigator isolated hepatocytes with an enzymatic method using a mixture of collagenase and hyaluronidase from normal Sprague-Dawley rat liver and cultured. Isolated hepatocytes were round and formed cords in culture. Microvilli covered the whole surface of hepatocytes. Bile canaliculi were formed between hepatocytes and were characterized by the presence of microvilli of various lengths and shapes mainly arising from small surface mounds. Actin filament core in the microvilli and pericanalicular actin web were incomplete. After cytochalasin D treatment, cultured hepatocytes were round but the surface were irregular with surfacen blebs, folds and grooves. Microvilli on the surface were scarce. Bile canaliculi were markedly dilated often with the detached junctional complexes. Bile canaliculi lacks microvilli almost completely and extended into the pericanalirular cytoplasm showing complex vacuolar and tubular structures by transmission electron mciroscopy. Pericanalicular actin web, intermediate filaments were hardly identified. Subsurface actin filaments were scattered scarcely under the cell membranes. These results suggest that hepatocytes isolated from rats can survive and form bile canaliculi in culture and the actin filaments are involved in the formation and/or maintenance of the bile canaliculi.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.155-168
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect the radiation-resistance of chitosan on the mice. A healthy male ICR mice were used for experiment. The SOD and MDA activity was measured from the liver of mice at 48 and 72 hours after the irradiation. The ultrastructural changes of the liver by irradiation was observed at 24, 48 and 72 hours after irradiation. The experimental groups were divided into three groups. Group 1 was the control group which was not treated with chitosanoligosaccharide before or after iradiation. Group 2 was the prefeeding group which chitosanoligosaccharide solution was supplied by feeding ad libitum for 30 days before irradiation. Group 3 was the postfeeding group which chitosanoligosaccharide solution was supplied by feeding after irradiation. In all groups 10 mice were used. The results were as follow: The SOD and MDA activity of the prefeeding group was decreased significantly (P<0.01). Control group - The nuclei were condensed. The mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were extended and the ribosome was dropped from the rER. Prefeeding group - The nuclei were rounded. The mitochondria was elongated. And the rER attached ribosomes. Postfeeding group - The nuclei were slightly condensed. The mitochondria and the rER were extended and the ribosome was dropped from the rER. It was concluded that the chitosanoligosaccharide was effective in the radiation-protection. So, chitosan would have the potential as the radiation-protection materials.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.265-276
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• 2011

The aim of the present study is to validate the effects of treatment with different concentration of estrogen receptor alpha agonist, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) on the weight and histological structure in the accessory reproductive organs (ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and preputial gland) of male mouse. Treated groups received different doses of PPT 0.01 mg, 0.1 mg and 1.0 mg per week respectively, for 3, 5, and 8 weeks. In general, the weight of reproductive organs was increased in PPT 0.01 mg and 0.1 mg treatment, however decreased in PPT 1.0 mg treatment. Epithelial tissues in the ventral prostate were changed from simple columnar epithelium to squamous or cuboidal epithelium in the treated groups. On week 3, PPT groups caused decrease of epithelial cell height in the ventral prostate. Lumen of the seminal vesicle was narrowed in the treated group. Epithelial cell height of seminal vesicle was reduced in the PPT treatment. Acinus tissue of preputial gland in PPT 1.0 mg treatment was dramatically atrophied than that of control group. These results are useful as a reference to determine the administration concentration of PPT in experiments for understanding the physiological functions of estrogen in the male.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect the lead toxicity of chitosan on the rats. A healthy male of Wistar rat was used for experiment. The lead acetate (30 mg/kg, Pb) was injected two times per a week into the abdomen. 0.1% chitosan solution (1 mg/ml) was supplied by feeding ad libitum. After 4 or 8 weeks, we was observed kidney by electron microscope. The experimental groups were divided into two groups. Group 1 was control group which was not treated with chitosan solution after contaminatation of lead acetate. Group 2 was experimental group which was treated with chitosan solution after contamination of lead acetate. All groups were used to 10 rats. The results were as follow: On the proximal convoluted tubules of the group with only Pb, the number of microvillis were decreased and the number of lysosomes were increased on the cytoplasm. The mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum were extended and ribosomes dropped from the rough endoplasmic reticulum. On the proximal convoluted tubules of the group with Pb-chitosan, the shapes and number of microvilli were not changed and the number of lysosomes were decreased. The shapes of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum observed not changes. We concluded that chitosan has effect on reducing toxicity of lead in the rat kidney.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.231-246
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of squalene (SQ) on the mouse hepatotoxicity induced by cadmium. ICR male mouse weighting about 30 gm were injected $CdCl_2$ (5.0 mg/kg) and SQ (180 mg/kg) into intraperitoneal. At the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days, livers were treated with superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and transmission electron microscopical method and then observed with electron microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows: SOD activity in the liver, Group A was higher than in normal. Group B was lower than in Group A. In the histological observation, nucleus of Group A showed irregular shape. Inner cavity of mitochondria swellen and development of cristae weakened. Swelling of Lamellae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) showed. Nucleus of group B showed normal shape. Typical lamellae of RER were observed. These results described above treatment of SQ decreased the hepatotoxicity of the $CdCl_2$ and SOD activity in the mouse liver, and then it suggests SQ may be effective for the recovery of hepatic cell.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2002

Granular gland regeneration in the toad after dorsal skin wound histologically was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. After cutaneous wounds were induced by excision, animals were maintained in special cages for up to 20 days. In transmission electron microscopy (TEM), newly formed granular gland, though poorly developed, was seen on 4 day after injury. Epithelial cells moved toward apical region of newly formed gland. The cells had smooth surface and were not connected to other cells by desmosomes. Mitochondria rich cell (MRC) possessing long cytoplasmic processes formed a gland cavity and hemidesmosomes were found under the cell processes. Basal cavity of newly formed gland consisted of MRC, pro-granular producing cells (pGPC), and granular producing cell (GPC). Moreover it was observed that xanthophores moved to the base of the epithelial tissue on 10 day after the injury. These cells contained numerous pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles. Immature pterinosomes were large and carotenoid vesicles were moderately electron dense. On 13 day after the injury, xanthophores contained abundant carotinoid vesicles and lammelated pterinosomes. Iridophores were also observed adjacent the developing xanthophores on 16 day post-injury. These observations indicated that regeneration of granular gland from glandular precursor cells during wound healing and subsequent expansion of the glandular cells might be dependent on maturation and proliferation of these newly formed cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

Morphology and microstructure of the suction trap in aquatic Utricularia japonica were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Branched stems bear numerous suction traps without root formation. The traps are derived axillary from the node, and their antennae and appendages extend in a peculiar fashion. The trap walls are thin, two-celled, parenchyma tissue and simple, small glands are scattered in both internal and external surface of the trap. The entrance of the trap is surrounded by one pair of dorsal antennae and ventral appendages, where the former guides the prey to the entrance. Trap door is situated below the entrance and numerous sessile and stalked capitate trichomes cover the entrance and even on the door surface. The capitate trichomes are secretory, but four trigger hairs formed on the central areas of the door are not. They are believed to function in activating and tripping the trap door. A specialized region of the threshold come in contact with the lower portion of the door upon closing. The secretory capitate trichomes near this region are responsible for producing and secreting a mucilage-like substance which composes the velum. Two-armed bifid glands are located in the interior side of the threshold, while four-armed quadrifid glands are considerably numerous occurring over the entire inner trap wall. Bifid and quadrifid glands develop semi-spherical basal cells that connect them to the inner wall surface. Antennae, trigger hairs, capitate trichomes, bifid and quadrifid glands are more important structures in the carnivory of U. japonica.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-198
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• 2007

Spermiogenesis in Japanese white-toothed shrew. Crocidura dsinezumi was investigated by transmission electron microscope. Spermiogenesis was divided into 12 phases 14 steps, based on the morphological features of the nucleus and change of organelles in cytoplasm. The nucleus of spermatids in Golgi (step $1{\sim}2$) phase were spherical; however, they were changed into oval in the cap (step $3{\sim}6$) phase. Flagellum appeared in the middle of acrosomal phase; on the other hand, slender and long spermatid head was formed in maturation phase. The head of spermatids faced the lumen in step 1 to step 6 (from Golgi to cap phase), but, in step 7 to step 14 (from acrosomal to spermiation phase), it turned its head to the basal lamina of the seminiferous epithelium. The nucleus and acrosome were elongated maximally in step 10. The condensation of chromatin started in late acrosomal (step 10) phase, and it was completely finished and homogenized in the middle of maturation (step 12) phase. Multivesicular body appeared near the acrosomal vacuole during the middle cap (step 5) phase, and a large number of them were observed near the Golgi apparatus in the late cap (step 6) phase. Considering all the results, the spermiogenesis might be useful information to analyse the differentiation of spermatogenic fells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

The ultrastructure and histochemical characteristics of the submandibular gland was examined in the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura. A submandibular gland of Crocidura lasiura was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the intercalated duct, the granular duct and the striated duct into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells and granular duct cells had large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosome and prominent Golgi apparatus at the basal cytoplasm of the cell, and many granules at the apical cytoplasm. Oval type serous granules had a homogeneously pale round shape of bead at the center. Mucous granules were distinct from those of the other mammalian species having variety patterns with several dense bands into homogeneous pale matrix. A serous-like secretory granules and myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and the lumen of granular duct cells. The myelin-like body is a characteristic structure only reported in the salivary glands of two shrews, Suncus murinus and C. dsinezumi. Striated duct cell had numerous well-developed mitochondria but secretory granule was not shown at all.