Biomaterial Database

The fine structure of large dense-core organelles in human locus coeruleus neurons. 1996

M R Issidorides, and V Kriho, and G D Pappas

Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Greece.

Protein bodies, the characteristic spherical organelles present in human monoamine neurons, have been shown in previous electron microscope studies to originate as dense bodies in mitochondria. This study was designed to investigate the presence of catecholamine reaction products in the dense bodies of locus coeruleus neurons, in frozen fresh post-mortem brain tissue with the use of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) fixation. This fixation procedure forms a dense KMnO4/catecholamine reaction product, visible in the electron microscope, in the large dense-core vesicles of experimental animals. Our results demonstrate the localization of KMnO4 dense product in the cores of double membrane-bound spherical organelles, as well as in spherical structures in the matrix of typical mitochondria. No typical large dense-core vesicles were observed in these catecholamine neurons of the tissues studied. Our findings are consistent with the notion that altered mitochondria may contribute to the formation of a new type of large dense-core vesicle in the locus coeruleus neurons of man, which is probably an evolutionary adaptation of amine-storing organelles.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008125	Locus Coeruleus	Bluish-colored region in the superior angle of the FOURTH VENTRICLE floor, corresponding to melanin-like pigmented nerve cells which lie lateral to the PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY.	Locus Caeruleus Complex,Locus Caeruleus,Locus Ceruleus,Locus Ceruleus Complex,Locus Coeruleus Complex,Nucleus Pigmentosus Pontis,Caeruleus Complex, Locus,Complex, Locus Caeruleus,Complex, Locus Ceruleus,Complex, Locus Coeruleus,Pontis, Nucleus Pigmentosus
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008928	Mitochondria	Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Mitochondrial Contraction,Mitochondrion,Contraction, Mitochondrial,Contractions, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Contractions
D008933	Mitochondrial Swelling	An increase in MITOCHONDRIAL VOLUME due to an influx of fluid; it occurs in hypotonic solutions due to osmotic pressure and in isotonic solutions as a result of altered permeability of the membranes of respiring mitochondria.	Giant Mitochondria,Megamitochondria,Mitochondrial Hypertrophy,Giant Mitochondrias,Hypertrophy, Mitochondrial,Megamitochondrias,Mitochondria, Giant,Mitochondrial Hypertrophies,Swelling, Mitochondrial
D009419	Nerve Tissue Proteins		Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011196	Potassium Permanganate	Permanganic acid (HMnO4), potassium salt. A highly oxidative, water-soluble compound with purple crystals, and a sweet taste. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Information, 4th ed)	Permanganate, Potassium
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D002102	Cadaver	A dead body, usually a human body.	Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses