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Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an spezifischen Organellen von Endothelzellen des Frosches (Rana temporaria)

Electron microscopic studies on specific organelles of endothelial cells in the frog (Rana temporaria)

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Summary

Endothelial cells of vertebrates contain specific organelles of unknown function. These organelles are studied by electron microscopy with different fixations. The organelles are rod-shaped with many variations, up to 2μ in length and 0.1 to 0.5 μ in thickness. Their outer membrane, which is often discontinuous, is thicker than cytoplasmic membranes. The density of the matrix shows distinct gradations. The organelles contain tubules, possibly built up by a spiral molecular chain. The distribution of the organelles is investigated with stereological methods. Their volume density in endothelial cell cytoplasm appears to depend more on the distance from the heart than on vessel size, the thoracic aortae showing the highest organellae content of 8%. Connections between organelles and cytoplasmic membranes are demonstrated. Particularities of endothelium, among them aggregations of ribosomes, are pointed out.

Zusammenfassung

Endothelzellen der Wirbeltiere enthalten spezifische Organellen, deren Funktion unbekannt ist. Diese Organellen werden beim Frosch (Rana temporaria) nach unterschiedlichen Fixierungen elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die Organellen sind walzenförmig mit mannigfachen Abweichungen, bis zu 2μ lang und 0,1 bis 0,5μ dick. Ihre oft unterbrochene Außenmembran ist dicker als zytoplasmatische Membranen. Das Innere der Organellen besteht aus Tubuli, die in eine elektronendichte Matrix eingebettet sind. Die Dichte dieser Matrix zeigt deutliche Abstufungen. Die Tubuli sind möglicherweise aus einer spiralförmigen Molekülkette aufgebaut. Das Verteilungsmuster der Organellen wird mit stereologischen Methoden untersucht. Die größte Volumendichte weisen die Aortae thoracicae mit 8% auf. Die Volumendichte der Organellen im Zytoplasma der Endothelzellen scheint mehr von der Entfernung der betreffenden Gefäßstrecke zum Herzen abzuhängen als von der Gefäßgröße. Es werden Verbindungen der Organellen zu zytoplasmatischen Membransystemen aufgezeigt. Auf Besonderheiten des Endothels, darunter Aggregationen von Ribosomen, wird hingewiesen.

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  1. Anatomisches Institut der Universität Bern, Schweiz

    Klaus F. Steinsiepe & Ewald R. Weibel

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  1. Klaus F. Steinsiepe
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Herrn Prof. Dr. med. F. Hammersen und Fräulein Dr. med. M. Lewerenz danke ich herzlich für Anregungen, Unterstützung und Kritik. Die Arbeit entstand während eines vom Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst dankenswerterweise gewährten Stipendiums; sie wurde unterstützt vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Kredit-Nr. 3952.

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Steinsiepe, K.F., Weibel, E.R. Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an spezifischen Organellen von Endothelzellen des Frosches (Rana temporaria). Z. Zellforsch. 108, 105–126 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335946

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