Abstract
A study has been made of the cells of the left colleterial gland of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), using the electron microscope, and the results compared with previous histological and histochemical studies. The colleterial gland consists of an arborescent bunch of long tubules composed mainly of the cells which secrete the structural protein of the egg case ("type 4 cells"). Other types of cells: chitinogenic cells and "type 2 and 3 cells" each with a different cytology are described. The type 4 cells, which form the structural protein, reveal a cytological pattern very similar to that described for mammalian cells in a state of active protein synthesis. There is an elaborate development of particle-studded membranes in the cytoplasm. Smaller, rounded agranular vesicles also occur. The free secretory surface of the secreting cells forms the "end-apparatus" of the light microscopists. The invaginated surface is cast into numerous long narrow processes usually radially arranged and directed into a funnel-like formation derived from the thin intima lining the lumen of the gland (Text-fig. 2). The secretion in the form of small balls may be seen in the cavity of the end-apparatus and sometimes in the narrow processes. The small chitinogenic cells, lying between the protein-forming cells and the thin intima which they secrete, have a different cytology perhaps related to the fact that they form a polysaccharide rather than a protein. There is a very poor development of the particle-studded membranes of the type found in protein-forming cells. The type 2 cells, supposed to form an oxidase, have an end-apparatus that is similar to, but more complex than, those of the type 4 cells and their cytoplasm is almost completely filled with mitochondria. There is some evidence that mitochondria play a part in forming the oxidase and pass into the tubules of the end-apparatus. Type 3 cells resemble both types 2 and 4 and are probably a transient intermediate form.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.3 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BEAMS H. W., TAHMISIAN T. N., DEVINE R. L. Electron microscope studies on the cells of the malpighian tubules of the grasshopper (Orthoptera, Acrididae). J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 May 25;1(3):197–202. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.3.197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BIRBECK M. S., MERCER E. H. Applications of an epoxide embedding medium to electron microscopy. J R Microsc Soc. 1958 Apr;76(4):159–161. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1956.tb00455.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GLAUERT A. M., GLAUERT R. H. Araldite as an embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 Mar 25;4(2):191–194. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.2.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KENT P. W. Recent developments in the biochemistry of mucosubstances. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1958;10 (Suppl 31):166–190. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- SJOSTRAND F. S., HANZON V. Ultrastructure of Golgi apparatus of exocrine cells of mouse pancreas. Exp Cell Res. 1954 Nov;7(2):415–429. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4827(54)80087-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]