Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology logoLink to The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
. 1958 Sep 25;4(5):583–592. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.5.583

The Fine Structure of Blastema Cells and Differentiating Cartilage Cells in Regenerating Limbs of Amblystoma Larvae

Elizabeth D Hay 1
PMCID: PMC2224557  PMID: 13587554

Abstract

Regenerating forelimbs of larval salamanders, Amblystoma punctatum, were fixed in OsO4 at various intervals after amputation and were sectioned for study with the electron microscope. The dedifferentiated cells comprising the early blastema were found to have a fine structure similar to that of other undifferentiated cells and to have lost all of the identifying morphological features of their tissues of origin. The cytoplasm of such cells is characterized by numerous free ribonucleoprotein granules and a discontinuous vesicular endoplasmic reticulum. The cells have more abundant cytoplasm and are in closer contact with each other than was previously realized. The layer of condensed ground substance investing most differentiated cell types is lacking. After a period of rapid cell division, the morphology of the blastema cell changes. Cytoplasm is now sparse and contains a high concentration of free ribonucleoprotein granules, but little endoplasmic reticulum. The differentiating cartilage cell, however, develops an extensive, highly organized endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus also appears to become more highly differentiated and more extensive at this time. Small vesicles appear throughout the cytoplasm at the time the new cisternae originate and may contribute to their formation. These and other changes in the cytoplasmic organelles are discussed.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.0 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ADAMS W. R., PRINCE A. M. An electron microscope study of the morphology and distribution of the intracytoplasmic virus-like particles of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Mar 25;3(2):161–170. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.2.161. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. AFZELIUS B. A. Electron microscopy on the basophilic structures of the sea urchin egg. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1957;45(6):660–675. doi: 10.1007/BF00338710. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BURGOS M. H., FAWCETT D. W. An electron microscope study of spermatid differentiation in the toad, Bufo arenarum Hensel. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 May 25;2(3):223–240. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.3.223. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BURGOS M. H., FAWCETT D. W. Studies on the fine structure of the mammalian testis. I. Differentiation of the spermatids in the cat (Felis domestica). J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jul 25;1(4):287–300. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.4.287. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CAMERON D. A., ROBINSON R. A. Electron microscopy of cartilage and bone matrix at the distal epiphyseal line of the femur in the newborn infant. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):253–260. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.253. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CLARK S. L., Jr Cellular differentiation in the kidneys of newborn mice studies with the electron microscope. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 May 25;3(3):349–362. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.3.349. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DALTON A. J., FELIX M. D. Cytologic and cytochemical characteristics of the Golgi substance of epithelial cells of the epididymis in situ, in homogenates and after isolation. Am J Anat. 1954 Mar;94(2):171–207. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000940202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DEMPSEY E. W. Variations in the structure of mitochondria. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):305–312. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.305. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. FAWCETT D. W., ITO S. Observations on the cytoplasmic membranes of testicular cells, examined by phase contrast and electron microscopy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 Mar 25;4(2):135–142. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.2.135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. FAWCETT D. W. Observations on the cytology and electron microscopy of hepatic cells. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1955 Apr;15(5 Suppl):1475–1503. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HODGE A. J., MCLEAN J. D., MERCER F. V. A possible mechanism for the morphogenesis of lamellar systems in plant cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Sep 25;2(5):597–608. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.5.597. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOWATSON A. F., HAM A. W. Electron microscope study of sections of two rat liver tumors. Cancer Res. 1955 Jan;15(1):62–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. PALADE G. E. A small particulate component of the cytoplasm. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jan;1(1):59–68. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.1.59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PALADE G. E. A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J Exp Med. 1952 Mar;95(3):285–298. doi: 10.1084/jem.95.3.285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. PALADE G. E., PORTER K. R. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. I. Its identification in cells in situ. J Exp Med. 1954 Dec 1;100(6):641–656. doi: 10.1084/jem.100.6.641. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. PALADE G. E., SIEKEVITZ P. Liver microsomes; an integrated morphological and biochemical study. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Mar 25;2(2):171–200. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.2.171. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. PALADE G. E. The endoplasmic reticulum. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):85–98. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.85. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. PEASE D. C. An electron microscopic study of red bone marrow. Blood. 1956 Jun;11(6):501–526. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. PORTER K. R., BLUM J. A study in microtomy for electron microscopy. Anat Rec. 1953 Dec;117(4):685–710. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091170403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. PORTER K. R. Electron microscopy of basophilic components of cytoplasm. J Histochem Cytochem. 1954 Sep;2(5):346–375. doi: 10.1177/2.5.346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. PORTER K. R., KALLMAN F. L. Significance of cell particulates as seen by electron microscopy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1952 Jul 10;54(6):882–891. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1952.tb39963.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. PORTER K. R. Observations on a submicroscopic basophilic component of cytoplasm. J Exp Med. 1953 May;97(5):727–750. doi: 10.1084/jem.97.5.727. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. REBHUN L. I. Electron microscopy of basophilic structures of some invertebrate oocytes. II. Fine structure of the yolk nuclei. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Mar 25;2(2):159–170. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.2.159. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. SAGER R., PALADE G. E. Structure and development of the chloroplast in Chlamydomonas. I. The normal green cell. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 May 25;3(3):463–488. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.3.463. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. SCOTT B. L., PEASE D. C. Electron microscopy of the epiphyseal apparatus. Anat Rec. 1956 Dec;126(4):465–495. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091260405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. SELBY C. C. The electron microscopy of normal and neoplastic cells. Tex Rep Biol Med. 1953;11(4):728–744. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. SOTELO J. R., TRUJILLO-CENOZ O. Electron microscope study of the vitelline body of some spider oocytes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Mar 25;3(2):301–310. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.2.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. WATSON M. L. The nuclear envelope; its structure and relation to cytoplasmic membranes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 May 25;1(3):257–270. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.3.257. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES