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Locating transcribed and non-transcribed rDNA spacer sequences within the nucleolus by in situ hybridization and immunoelectron microscopy.

Immunoelectron microscopy and in situ hybridization have been used to investigate the precise location of transcribed and non-transcribed rDNA spacer sequences. Whereas a 5'-external transcribed spacer sequence is predominantly visualized in the fibrillar centers of nucleoli, a non-transcribed spacer sequence is preferentially detected in the interstices, in close contact with the fibrillar centers and which interrupt the surrounding dense fibrillar component. Occasionally these two spacers are also observed in clumps of dense nucleolus-associated chromatin. These observations provide insights into the organization of ribosomal repeats within the nucleolus.

Animals

Alcohol abuse-related mesangial glomerulonephritis: immunoelectron microscopy.

Immunoelectron microscopy, using post-embedding immunohistochemistry with colloidal gold, was performed on renal samples from forensic autopsies. We confirmed that electron-dense deposits seen in alcohol abuse-related mesangial nephritis correspond to immunoglobulins, as has been shown previously by others in idiopathic cases. We investigated seven control samples and 13 specimens from individuals with evidence of alcohol abuse, six of whom had mesangial nephritis with IgA deposition. We found concentration of the gold particles over large electron-dense deposits in four of six cases of mesangial nephritis, confirming that they correspond to the IgA shown by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, a similar concentration of gold particles was not observed in control cases or in alcoholics without mesangial glomerulonephritis (4/6 vs 0/14; p = 0.005). IgM, seen as small aggregates, was confirmed in only two of six of the same cases. This is the first time that immunoelectron microscopy is performed on tissues obtained post mortem.

Ethanol

Measurement of antibodies to rabies virus by immunoelectron microscopy.

Immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was used to measure rabies antibodies in 47 serum samples from vaccinees with results similar to those obtained by mouse neutralization test (MNT). The use of inactivated rabies virus for IEM eliminated the hazard associated with live virus used in the MNT.

Antibodies, Viral

The location of filamentous hemagglutinin and pertussis toxin antigens of Bordetella pertussis by immunoelectron microscopy.

Immunoelectron microscopy using colloidal gold-tagged antibodies was used to detect filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertussis toxin (PT) antigens on the surface and in the cytoplasm of Bordetella pertussis cells. Both gold-tagged antibodies to FHA and PT labeled the aggregates of filamentous material on the surface of sediment-settled phase I cells under static conditions. FHA and PT antigens were detected also on ultrathin sections made after embedding the phase I cells in Lowicryl K4M resin. On the ultrathin sections, intense label of gold-tagged antibodies to FHA and PT was present on the cell surface and also in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleoid. The aggregates of filamentous material adhering on the surface of phase I cells were most abundant on culture day 3, the end of the logarithmic growth stage, but most of the aggregates were found detached from the cell surface on culture day 5 or 7, the stationary stage. The aggregates were not found on the surface of phase III cells. The present study suggested that FHA and PT antigens were localized on the same cell structure and that both antigens were synthesized in the cytoplasm and secreted across the cell membrane mainly in the logarithmic growth stage of the phase I cells.

Bordetella pertussis

The organization of titin filaments in the half-sarcomere revealed by monoclonal antibodies in immunoelectron microscopy: a map of ten nonrepetitive epitopes starting at the Z line extends close to the M line.

mAbs specific for titin or nebulin were characterized by immunoblotting and fluorescence microscopy. Immunoelectron microscopy on relaxed chicken breast muscle revealed unique transverse striping patterns. Each of the 10 distinct titin antibodies provided a pair of delicate decoration lines per sarcomere. The position of these pairs was centrally symmetric to the M line and was antibody dependent. The results provided a linear epitope map, which starts at the Z line (antibody T20), covers five distinct positions along the I band (T21, T12, T4, T1, T11), the A-I junction (T3), and three distinct positions within the A band (T10, T22, T23). The epitope of T23 locates 0.2 micron before the M line. In immunoblots, the two antibodies decorating at or just before the Z line (T20, T21) specifically recognized the insoluble titin TI component but did not recognize TII, a proteolytic derivative. All other titin antibodies recognized TI and TII. Thus titin molecules appear as polar structures lacking over large regions repetitive epitopes. One physical end seems related to Z line anchorage, while the other may bind close to the M line. Titin epitopes influenced by the contractional state of the sarcomere locate between the N1 line and the A-I junction (T4, T1, T11). We discuss the results in relation to titin molecules having half-sarcomere lengths. The three nebulin antibodies so far characterized again give rise to distinct pairs of stripes. These locate close to the N2 line.

Animals

The use of post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy in the diagnosis of glomerular diseases. Comparison of immunoelectron microscopic and immunofluorescence studies.

Fifty renal biopsies were studied by immunoelectron microscopy after embedding in a partly hydrophilic polyacrylic resin (LR White). Immunofluorescence studies were carried out on frozen sections of parallel tissue samples. Polyacrylic embedding gave good preservation of the renal ultrastructure and precise localization of immunoglobulin and C3c antibodies within glomerular electron-dense deposits. Non-specific staining of plasma proteins within vascular lumina could easily be detected. There was good correlation between immunoelectron and immunofluorescence microscopy. Immunoelectron microscopy is a very sensitive method, which can detect small amounts of antigen. More cases were, however, positive by immunofluorescence than by immunoelectron microscopy. This discrepancy may be explained by difference in sample size, and by difference in resolution of morphological details (electron microscopy versus fluorescence microscopy).

Acrylic Resins

Propylthiouracyl-induced hypothyroidism results in reversible transdifferentiation of somatotrophs into thyroidectomy cells. A morphologic study of the rat pituitary including immunoelectron microscopy.

Two-month-old female Fischer-344 rats were rendered hypothyroid by ingestion of propyl-thiouracyl (PTU) (0.1% in drinking water) and sacrificed 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after the start of PTU administration as well as 3, 7 and 14 days after interruption of a 14-day PTU treatment. Controls received no PTU. The pituitaries were studied by histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy, using the immunogold double-labeling technique. In the course of hypothyroidism, pituitary thyrotrophs had undergone the well-known thyroidectomy change. In addition, a contingent of growth hormone (GH) cells lost their large secretory granules, enlarged, displayed progressive dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, thereby transforming into thyroidectomy cells. These bihormonal thyrosomatotrophs contained gH in their secretory granules and thyrotropin in the dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum as documented by the immunogold double-labeling method for GH and thyrotropin. After discontinuation of PTU treatment, a rapid increase in size, number and GH labeling of secretory granules and simultaneous involution of distended rough endoplasmic reticulum with reduction of thyrotropin labeling took place in thyrosomatotrophs. A practically complete restitution of normal pituitary structure was seen in 2 weeks. Results implicate that, contrary to previously accepted concepts, adenohypophysial cells may not be irreversibly committed to one morphologically recognizable cell line.

Animals

Large block embedding and "pop-off" technique for immunoelectron microscopy.

A technique for immunoelectron microscopy is described whereby tissue is embedded in large (6 x 12 mm) plastic blocks and reembedded ("popped off") directly from semithin (3-microns) sections for thin sectioning. This technique is particularly useful in locating relatively sparse cells or tissue structures. Three acrylic plastics were evaluated: Lowicryl K4M, LR Gold, and LR White. Results indicated excellent ultrastructural morphologic preservation and retention of antigenicity with the first two plastics both comparable to conventional methods of processing. Lowicryl and LR Gold were successfully adapted to the large block pop-off technique. Technical problems were encountered with LR White.

Acrylic Resins

Localization of an intermediate chain of outer arm dynein by immunoelectron microscopy.

We have used immunoelectron microscopy to determine the location of an intermediate chain in the isolated outer arm dynein from Chlamydomonas flagella. When the purified alpha beta dimer of the outer arm was incubated with antibodies recognizing two distinct epitopes on its 69-kDa intermediate chain and then negatively stained and examined by electron microscopy, both antibodies appeared to have bound to the base of the Y-shaped stem that connects the two heads of the particle. These results indicate that this intermediate chain is located at the base of the stem. Inasmuch as this polypeptide is tightly associated with the 78-kDa intermediate chain and several light chains in an intermediate chain-light chain complex, it is likely that this entire assemblage is located at the base of the particle. Thus, these polypeptides are in a potentially important position with regard to the ATP-insensitive (structural end) binding of dynein to microtubules and to dynein-dynein interactions within the axoneme.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Selective induction of peroxisomal enzymes by the hypolipidemic drug bezafibrate. Detection of modulations by automatic image analysis in conjunction with immunoelectron microscopy and immunoblotting.

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy in conjunction with quantitative analysis of immunoblots have been used to study the effects of bezafibrate (BF), a peroxisome-proliferating hypolipidemic drug, upon six different enzyme proteins in rat liver peroxisomes (Po). Antibodies against following peroxisomal enzymes: catalase, urate oxidase, alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase, acyl-CoA oxidase, bifunctional enzyme (hydratase-dehydrogenase) and thiolase, were raised in rabbits, and their monospecificities were confirmed by immunoblotting. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 7 days with 250 mg/kg/day bezafibrate and liver sections were incubated with the appropriate antibodies followed by the protein A-gold complex. The labeling density for each enzyme was estimated by automatic image analysis. In parallel experiments immunoblots prepared from highly purified peroxisome fractions of normal and BF-treated rats were incubated with the same antibodies. The antigens were visualized by an improved protein A-gold method including an anti-protein A step and silver amplification. The immunoblots were also quantitated by an image analyzer. The results revealed a selective induction of beta-oxidation enzymes by bezafibrate with thiolase showing the most increase followed by bifunctional protein and acyl-CoA oxidase. The labeling density for catalase and alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase was reduced, confirming fully the quantitative analysis of immunoblots which in addition revealed reduction of uricase. These observations demonstrate that hypolipidemic drugs induce selectively the beta-oxidation enzymes while other peroxisomal enzymes are reduced. The quantitative immunoelectron microscopy with automatic image analysis provides a versatile, highly sensitive and efficient method for rapid detection of modulations of individual proteins in peroxisomes.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase

Processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) approached by immunoelectron microscopy pre-embedding method.

Immunoelectron microscopy pre-embedding method was applied to study the processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Premature pituitary cells and cancer cells showed POMC derived peptides in perinuclear spaces (PNS), rough endoplasmic reticula (RER) and in a few secretory granules (SG). These cells demonstrated immature processing of POMC and suggested constitutive pathway. Cultured mouse fibroblasts transfected with human POMC gene was a good model for this system. Mature pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas showed POMC derived peptides predominantly in SG which correlated with authentic processing of POMC. Cultured mouse AtT 20 cells transfected with human POMC gene showed similar secretory pathway and processing. These results emphasized that SG is mandatory for proper processing of POMC. SG is probably essential for the regulated system of secretion.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Immunoelectron microscopy of enzymes, multienzyme complexes, and selected other oligomeric proteins.

The collective term "immunoelectron microscopy" subsumes a number of techniques in which the biological material is decorated with specific antibodies, prior to being visualized in the electron microscope. In this article, we have reviewed literature on immunoelectron microscopy that focusses on the analysis of the molecular architecture of proteins, in particular of enzymes and of multienzyme complexes. Molecular immunoelectron microscopy has been remarkably successful with multi-subunit enzymes of complex quaternary structures, and in many cases the data have been the basis for the eventual development of detailed three-dimensional molecular models. The elucidation of subunit composition and juxtaposition of a given enzyme, an important accomplishment in itself, has in turn stimulated and guided discussions on the catalytic mechanism; illustrative examples include F1 ATPase and citrate lyase, among others. Here we have chosen a variety of enzymes, multienzyme complexes, and non-enzymatic proteins to demonstrate the versatility of immunoelectron microscopy, to illustrate methodological prerequisites and limitations, and to discuss significance and implications of individual immunoelectron microscopy studies.

Animals

Immunoelectron microscopy shows an atypical pattern and a quantitative shift of collagens type I, III and VI in oral Kaposi's sarcoma of AIDS.

The localization of collagen types I, III and VI in normal human alveolar and palatal mucosa and in oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was studied by light microscopy and cryo-immunoelectron microscopy. Normal oral mucosa revealed two different types of organization. The upper connective tissue stroma contained a loose reticular network mainly composed of collagen types III and VI, while collagen type I immunostaining predominated in the deeper stroma. Ultrastructurally, in the KS tumour stroma, a loose pattern of individual thin collagen fibrils was noted. These often fanned out at their ends showing a filamentous substructure. The fibrils consisted predominantly of collagen type I similar to individual fibrils of normal oral mucosa. However, there was a marked loss of thick fibre bundles of collagen types I and III in KS compared with normal oral mucosa, whereas collagen type VI was markedly increased and found preferentially in clusters and strands around cross-striated fibrils that often spanned the distance between single collagen fibres. The abundance of collagen type VI in a pattern similar to early stages of wound healing suggests that the KS stroma resembles an early organizational stage of the interstitial and vascular extracellular matrix subject to a high rate of collagen turnover. This character of the KS stroma appears to result from a continuous auto-and paracrine stimulation of cell growth and collagen synthesis and provides an excellent model to study the structural arrangement of collagen type VI in relation to the fibrillar collagen types I and III.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans detection using immunoelectron microscopy.

A specific, fast and very sensitive immunoelectron microscopy method was developed to morphologically and serologically distinguish different cultures of iron oxidizers. Bacteria isolated from the acidic waters of "Matahambre" and "Mina Delita" mines (Cuba) were characterized. An antiserum specific to Thiobacillus ferrooxidans did not react with other bacteria also present in the acidic waters of mine drainage. Our results suggest the occurrence of some strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in these waters.

Antibodies, Bacterial

Immunoelectron microscopy of influenza A virus neuraminidase glycoprotein topography.

Using immunoelectron microscopy, the distribution of influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins was examined, after performing immunoreactions to virions on the grid. With polyclonal antibody, the immunolabels of the glycoproteins were found to be homogeneously distributed, whereas with monoclonal antibody they were found to be distributed in clusters. After destruction of haemagglutinin (HA) but not of NA activity with a high concentration of trypsin, the remaining visible spikes were evenly distributed. This finding was consistent with the absence of immunolabelling with anti-HA antibody, and the homogeneous pattern of immunolabels with anti-NA polyclonal antibody, but not with the clustered labelling with the anti-NA monoclonal antibody. Thus, the immunolabelling image with anti-NA polyclonal antibody was considered to reflect the true one.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Identification of coronaviruses by the use of indirect protein A-gold immunoelectron microscopy.

Concentration by airfuge and protein A-colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy (PAG-IEM) offered a rapid and sensitive method for detection and identification of coronaviruses from various species. The method was applied to partially purified tissue culture-adapted or egg-adapted mammalian and avian coronaviruses and to clarified fecal samples from diarrheic calves and turkey poults for detection of enteric coronaviruses. Aggregates of virus coated with specific antibody were seen in virus samples mixed with homologous antiserum but not in control samples containing preexposure serum. At least a 10-50-fold enhancement of the sensitivity of direct EM for virus detection was obtained using protein A-colloidal gold complex as an electron-dense marker. The PAG-IEM method demonstrated low nonspecific background labeling and permitted detection of soluble and particle-associated antigen. Reciprocal cross-reactivity was detected among the subgroup of mammalian hemagglutinating coronaviruses, and antisera to 4 members of other subgroups only recognized their homologous virus.

Animals

Neuronal associations in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy.

The synaptic associations of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of rats were examined by single immunolabeling for somatostatin (SRIH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), and double immunolabeling for SRIH plus AVP and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plus AVP. Single immunolabeling showed that SRIH neurons, which displayed some somatic and dendritic spines, formed synaptic contacts with immunonegative and positive axon terminals. AVP neurons also formed synaptic contacts with both immunonegative and positive axon terminals. The immunonegative terminals contained small, spherical clear vesicles or flattened clear vesicles. A few immunopositive AVP fibers made synapses with immunonegative somatic or dendritic spines. Double immunolabeling showed synaptic associations between SRIH axons and AVP cell bodies or dendritic processes, and between AVP axons and the somata or dendrites of SRIH neurons. These findings suggest a reciprocal relation between the two types of neurons. Synaptic contacts between AVP neurons and VIP axon terminals were also demonstrated. Previously, we found synapses between SRIH axons and VIP neurons. Thus SRIH neurons appeared to regulate AVP and VIP neurons. On the basis of these findings, two possible oscillation systems of the SCN are proposed.

Animals

A rapid method for the preparation of yeast for immunoelectron microscopy using Lowicryl HM-20.

We describe a fixation and embedding procedure for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using Lowicryl HM-20 which is rapid, gives excellent fixation, and avoids the low temperature handling normally associated with embedding in this resin. This procedure yields superior structural preservation when compared to the commonly used rapid embedding procedure which employs Lowicryl K4M. We demonstrate that sections prepared using our rapid procedure are suitable for use in immunogold labelling experiments.

Acrylic Resins