The fine structure of the dorsal bodies of the pulmonate limpet Siphonaria pectinata is described in the context of female reproduction involving egg production. In reproductively-active (egg-laying) animals, the ciliated dorsal body cells are filled with lipid droplets and mitochondria. Gap junctions are commonly seen between the cells. The Golgi complexes and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum constitute the other prominent cell organelles. In reproductively-inactive (non-egg-laying) animals, there is a significant reduction in the number of lipid droplets and evidence of reduced synthetic activity in the dorsal bodies. About 12 dorsal body cells are present immediately underneath the perineurium of each cerebral ganglion of the central nervous system. These internal cells are structurally similar to those outside the central nervous system. Cell processes of some of these cells exit the central nervous system at a minimum of three locations on each side and they come in close proximity to the dorsal body cells outside the cerebral ganglia. Like the external cells, the internal cells also communicate via gap junctions and exhibit structural differences according to whether or not the animals are reproductively active. The dorsal body cells, inside and outside the central nervous system, appear to be innervated by neurosecretory axons suggesting neuronal control of dorsal body activity.

The neurite distribution of three large neurosecretory cells, namely one canopy cell and two lateral-lobe cells from each lateral lobe of the cerebral ganglia in Helisoma duryi were studied by thick and thin plastic serial sections. These cells from only the right lateral lobe innervate the dorsal body. Neurites from the canopy cell innervate the cell-bodies whereas those from the lateral-lobe cells innervate the cell-processes of the dorsal body. Neurosecretory granules from these neurites are released at their sites of innervation. The neurites of the optic nerve form synapses with lateral-lobe cell(1), and synapse-like contacts with lateral-lobe cell(2) while a neurite of each canopy cell is found within its collateral optic nerve. Based on the anatomy of the lateral-lobe nerve cells and the optic nerve, it is argued that the stimulatory effect of long days on the dorsal body and on egg production is mediated through the lateral-lobe cells and the canopy cell.

The distribution of FMRFamide-immunoreactive neurons in the central nervous system of the freshwater pulmonate, Helisoma duryi is described. All parts of the central nervous system except the two pleural and the right parietal ganglia, contain immunoreactive neurons. By immunogold techniques, only one kind of neurosecretory FMRFamide-immunoreactive cell (previously identified as the type-3 cell) was localized in the visceral and left parietal ganglia. This cell type has been previously implicated in an antidiuretic role. FMRFamide-immunoreactive material is found in the whole mount of the kidney as well as in kidney sections. Electron microscopic examination shows that the axons innervating either the smooth muscles of the kidney or the kidney itself contain neurosecretory granules morphologically similar to type-3 cells of the visceral and left parietal ganglia. When incubated in saline containing nanogram quantities of FMRFamide, the wet weight of the kidney increased. It is suggested that FMRFamide-like substance may function as an antidiuretic factor and that the kidney is a target organ of this peptide for osmoregulation.

Morphological characteristics of myocardial ventricular myocytes have been evaluated from 5 mammalian orders with resting heart rates ranging from 51 to 475 bpm. The purpose was to determine if morphological characteristics of the myocardia are related to the functional demand imposed on the cell as represented by the resting heart rate. Cell size is a constant among mammals of different sizes which have different physiological demands. In contrast, there is more mitochondrial area and less myofibrillar area per cell in animals with rapidly beating hearts than in animals with slower heart rates. Additionally, the mean cross sectional area of individual myofibrils is 30% larger in the cow as compared to the mouse. These findings combined with our previous studies indicate that the different functional requirements of myocardia from different mammalian orders are satisfied by intracellular adaptations of both a structural and biochemical nature.

The ultrastructural organization of the dorsal bodies of Helix aspersa was studied using serial sections. The dorsal body cells, which were found in groups of two to six in the connective tissue surrounding the brain, contacted each other and formed a network. They were innervated by two types of axons. Type I axons conformed with those described in earlier studies as inhibitory and originating from the cerebral green cells. Type II axons contained secretory granules that were morphologically distinct from and smaller than type I granules. Between the dorsal body cells and both axon types, localized modifications of the membrane were evident. Virgin snails, which grew faster (wet weight) than mated snails, did not lay viable eggs. A comparative morphometric analysis of the dorsal bodies of virgin and mated snails showed that in the latter there was an increase in the numbers of mitochondria, secretory granules, and Golgi bodies, with a concomitant decrease in the numbers of lipid droplets. However, no difference was found in the numbers of profiles of exocytotic release of secretory granules with the use of tannic acid methods. Mating, obligatory for oviposition of viable eggs, appeared to cause ultrastructural changes consistent with increased synthesis and release of the dorsal body hormone essential for vitellogenesis, ovulation, and, consequently, egg laying.

The morphology and the organization of the endocrine dorsal bodies (DB) of non‐reproducing virgin and castrated, and reproducing mated Helisoma duryi have been examined using serial sectioning. The DB cells occur in two masses on the mid‐dorsal side of the cerebral commissure, each of which has a cortical zone containing the cell bodies and a medulla where cell processes terminate. The cell bodies measure 10–15 μm in diameter, and are arranged in lobules of 6–12 cells. The complex cell processes are winding and terminate at various distances from their cell bodies in both reproducing and non‐reproducing snails. Few 70–90‐nm membrane‐bound granules are found in the cell bodies and many are seen in the cell processes, which seem to penetrate the perineurium of the cerebral ganglia and make close contacts with neurosecretory cells. In reproducing snails the DB cells display a significantly larger amount of plasma membrane sproutings in the form of loops and circles compared to that in reproductively inactive virgin or castrated snails. Images of thin‐sections and freeze‐fracture replicas of these membranes suggest that they are gap junctions, which join the DB cells with each other. It is likely that gap junction‐mediated cell to cell communication is involved in the activation of the DB cells for their role(s) in reproduction.

The hermaphroditic snail Helisoma duryi does not lay eggs if raised as a virgin in isolation or when castrated. The fine structure of its neurosecretory caudodorsal cells (CDC), which produce the putative egg-laying hormone, was studied in reproductively inactive virgin and castrated snails and compared with that of the reproductively active mated snails, using electron microscopy, tannic acid incubation technique, and electron microscope autoradiography after injection of [3H]leucine. The CDC of virgin and castrated snails accumulate large numbers of elementary granules and appear synthetically inactive, whereas the CDC of mated snails contain fewer elementary granules and possess features characteristic of increased protein synthesis. The flattened cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the CDC of the virgins become swollen 3 h after first mating. In tannic acid incubated tissues, more released granules were seen in CDC from snails 12 h after first mating than in CDC from virgin and castrated snails. Autoradiography showed more silver grains on the CDC from snails 12–48 h after first mating than on those from snails 3–6 h after first mating. It is suggested that, in Helisoma, mating provides a stimulus to the CDC for increased protein synthesis and release of the putative egg-laying hormone.

The pericardial glands of three bivalve molluscs are composed of convoluted epithelium that appears as pouches on the auricles of Mytilus and as tubules in the connective tissue at the anterior-lateral sides of the pericardial cavity of Mercenaria and Anodonta. The pericardial gland cells are attached to each other by many randomly placed desmosome-like cell junctions and gap junctions. Belt-desmosomes that are characteristic of epithelial cells were not observed. The basal membrane of these cells is invaginated producing complex interdigitating cytoplasmic processes and filtration slits. The pericardial gland cells stain for the presence of iron with Prussian blue stain. Electron-dense and electron-lucent granules of various diameters are present in the cytoplasm. Many electron-dense granules contain ferritin-like particles in which the presence of iron has been demonstrated by microanalysis. It is suggested that these particles are the iron storage protein ferritin since they contain iron, and are water soluble, heat stable, and morphologically similar to mammalian ferritin. Ferritin particles are probably both synthesized and broken down by the pericardial gland cells; thus the pericardial gland cells may be involved in iron homeostasis in these molluscs.

The ultrastructure of the medulla interna-medulla externa X-organ (MI-ME Xo)-sinus gland (SG) complex in the eyestalk of Siriella armata is described during the normal and the experimentally inhibited molt cycle. In the normal SG, four types of neurosecretory axon terminals, each containing distinguishable neurosecretory granules, can be described. Thus, type-2 granules are synthesized by G1 neurons forming the MI-ME Xo. The cell bodies and axonal endings of these cells in the sinus gland have been examined at the following molt stages: intermolt (stage C4), premolt (D0 and D2), and postmolt (A1, A2 and B). Changes in ultrastructure of the G1 cells have been monitored and correlated to inhibitions of the molt-and reproductive cycle produced by electrocauterization of the MI-ME Xo. The results obtained suggest that the neurosecretion from the G1 cells exerts a positive influence on molt and brood preparation. The occurrence of a distal group of G1 cells whose axons terminate at a different site from the SG suggests that the neural factors of the MI-ME Xo are diverse and control different physiological activities.

Osmotically induced ultrastructural changes in the kidneys of the freshwater bivalve Anodonta and the marine bivalves Mytilus and Mercenaria were studied. Osmotic stresses were given to Anodonta by keeping them in distilled water or in 6% seawater, and to Mytilus and Mercenaria by keeping them in 50% seawater for various periods. In all of these bivalves, the convoluted, single cell layered kidney epithelia displayed wide lateral intercellular spaces as well as extracellular spaces in the basal membrane infoldings during hyposmotic stress. These spaces were greatly reduced when the animals were kept in isosmotic media (i.e., isosmotic to their respective hemolymphs). The kidney cells contained abundant cytoskeletal elements and microfilaments were often observed in bundles in the basal membrane infoldings. Actin was observed in the basal membrane infoldings using the specific fluorescent stain nitrobenzoxadiazole-phallacidin. The cell contacts of the kidney epthelia were studied in platinum replicas of freeze-fractured tissues. The lateral cell membrane and basal membrane infoldings contained many gap junctions. Many rows of dense intramembrane particles of septate junctions were observed in the kidneys of animals from isosmotic media. The septate junctions in the kidneys of aminals from hyposmotic media contained either fewer intramembrane particle rows or many sinuous intramembrane particle rows. The site of prourine formation in mollusks are discussed.

Synaptonemal complex (SC) analysis of six laboratory yeast strains showed the SC karyotypes to be repeatable within strains. Chromosomal differences were found between strains. In five of the strains, two SCs insert into the nucleolus. This represents a single bivalent with a nucleolar organizer in a medial position as is suggested by genetic data or two bivalents each with a terminal nucleolar organizer. In the first interpretation, n=16; in the second, n=17. Strain Tris has a single nucleolar SC and n=17. In strains DCx374, DCx416 and x 8366a the genetically determined rearrangements of linkage group III could not be identified. Presumably the short SC (0.33 μm) associated with linkage group III cannot accommodate an inversion loop or a translocation configuration. The strains however were found to harbour a reciprocal translocation involving the nucleolar chromosome. Trisomy for one of the longer chromosomes was observed in Tris and spo10. It is concluded that rearrangements of the medium and long but not short yeast chromosomes can be detected cytologically. — Measurements of nuclear volumes show SC length to vary with artifactually induced swelling of the nucleus. Linear regression of SC length over nuclear radius indicates that actual SC length is only about one-half the observed length. As a result the DNA packing per SC unit length is higher then previously estimated.

Conjugation in Schizosaccharomyces octosporus is described through the use of interference contrast microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and electron microscopy of serial sections. At the light microscope level, mating was frequently observed to occur between cells of common ancestry. Fluorescent staining of the nuclei showed that nuclear migration occurs prior to karyogamy, and following diploidization the nucleus then migrates to the end of the cell. A brightly fluorescent spot was found at the apex of the migration nucleus. At the electron microscope level, the results showed that nuclear movement occurs in the presence of cytoplasmic microtubules that are associated with the spindle pole body, the conjugatory nuclei first fuse at or near the spindle pole bodies, and fusion of the spindle bodies occurs apparently by stacking one onto the other.

Sporulation in four species belonging to three different families of the Hemiascomycetes is described from serial sections. The results show that in each species the formation of the ascospore wall is initiated at a specialized spindle pole body. Spore delimitation proceeds concurrently with the last nuclear division in the ascus. The findings support the taxonomic position that these species belong to a group that includes the yeasts but that is distinct from the Euascomycetes.