• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.132-136
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• 2014

Objective: The presence of sperm-head vacuoles has been suspected to be deleterious to the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is difficult to accurately distinguish morphologically abnormal sperm with vacuoles under a light microscope. This study was performed to analyze the result of the observation of sperm-head vacuoles using Papanicolaou staining under a light microscope and whether the male partner's age affects these vacuoles. Methods: Sperm morphology with vacuoles was evaluated using Papanicolaou staining and observed under a light microscope ($400{\times)$) in 980 men. The normal morphology was divided into three categories (group A, <4% of normal morphology; group B, 4%-14% of normal morphology; and group C, >14% of normal morphology). The criteria for the sperm-head vacuoles were those given in the World Health Organization manual. For the analysis of the age factor, the participants were divided into the following groups: 26-30 years, 31-35 years, 36-40 years, 41-45 years, and 46-50 years. Results: The percentage of sperm-head vacuoles increased with normal sperm morphology (group A vs. groups B, C) (p<0.05). In the case of the age factor, a statistically significant difference was not observed across any of the age groups. Conclusion: A majority of the sperm-head vacuoles showed a statistically significant difference among normal morphology groups. Therefore, we should consider the probability of the percentage of sperm-head vacuoles not increasing with age but with abnormal sperm morphology. A further study is required to clarify the effect of the sperm-head vacuoles on ART outcomes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.281-293
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• 1997

The effects of antimetabolite, 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), on ultrastrudural changes in the spinal cord of golden hamster were investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of 6-AN (10 mg/kg body weight) every two days gave rise to a marked reduction of about $30\sim40%$ in body weight after $26\sim28$ days ($13\sim14th$ injection). In the lesions of the spinal cord, neuroglial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were severely damaged, but neurons and blood vessels were not affected by 6-AN. The myelin sheath was also affected by 6-AN. Vacuoles observed in the lesions were produced by the swelling and degenerating changes of neuropils and neuroglial cells. Numerous swollen mitochondria and cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the watery cytoplasm of damaged neuroglial cells, but intermediate filaments were well preserved. Especially in the damaged astrocytes, the outer nuclear membrane were partially swollen and formed a halfmoonlike structure. It is suggested that as well as the multivesicular bodies protruding from the swollen dendrites, the conjugation of adjacent vacuoles also participated in the formation of large vacuoles.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2009

In the present study, ultrastructural features of the mesophyll tissue have been investigated in Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)-performing succulent Orostachys. A large central vacuole and numerous small vacuoles in the peripheral cytoplasm were characterized at the subcellular level in both developing and mature mesophyll cells. The most notable feature was the invagination of vacuolar membranes into the secondary vacuoles or multivesicular bodies. In many cases, tens of single, membrane-bound secondary vacuoles of various sizes were found to be formed within the central vacuole. multivesicular bodies containing numerous small vesicles were also distributed in the cytoplasm but were better developed within the central vacuole. Occasionally, electron-dense prevacuolar compartments, directly attached to structures appearing to be small vacuoles, were also detected in the cytoplasm. One or more huge central vacuoles were frequently observed in cells undergoing differentiation and maturation. Consistent with the known occurrence of morphologically distinct vacuoles within different tissues, two types of vacuoles, one representing lytic vacuoles and the other, most likely protein storage vacuoles, were noted frequently within Orostachys mesophyll. The two types coexisted in mature vegetative cells but did not merge during the study. Nevertheless, the coexistence of two distinct vacuole types in maturing cells implies the presence of more than one mechanism for vacuolar solute sorting in these species. The vacuolar membrane is known to be unique among the intracellular compartments for having different channels and/or pumps to maintain its function. In CAM plants, the vacuole is a very important organelle that regulates malic acid diurnal fluctuation to a large extent. The membrane invagination seen in Orostachys mesophyll likely plays a significant role in survival under the physiological drought conditions in which these Orostachys occur; by increasing to such a large vacuolar volume, the mesophyll cells are able to retain enormous amounts of acid when needed. Furthermore, the mesophyll cells are able to attain their large sizes with less energy expenditure in order to regulate the large degree of diurnal fluctuation of organic acid that occurs within the vacuoles of Orostachys.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 1996

Water storage cells (WSCs) in the leaf succulent Orostachys malacophyllus have been studied to understand their adaptive nature to its coastal habitat employing the electron microscopy. Attention has been paid to the features of vacuoles and plasmodesmata in this study, since leaf tissues in O. malacaphyllus are under continous physiological drought due to its occurrence in the shore-line environment. The WSCs occupied almost all of the leaf volume and appeared empty at low magnifications. Among the WSCs, small rudimentary vascular bundles were scattered throughout the internal volume. However, in high magnification the WSCs were vacuolate in most cases and vacuolization into a well-developed huge central vacuole was very common phenomenon. Such vacuolization has been detected within the vacuoles as well as within the cytoplasms. Well-developed plasmodesmata were often found in cells appeared to be mucilagenous. Moreover, plasmodesmata being involved in the secretion of materials or structures were even encountered. Thus, vacuolization from various sizes of vacuoles in the WSCs to have a huge central vacuole seems playing an important role in adapting the plant itself to its coastal habitat.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

The distal myopathies(DM) are clinically defined as inherited or sporadic primary muscle disorders characterized by progressive muscular weakness and atrophy beginning in the hands or feet and pathologically by myopathic changes in skeletal muscles. The pathologic changes are somewhat similar to those seen in chronic muscular dystrophy, but necrotic and regenerative processes are less prominent and creatine kinase levels are either normal or only mildly elevated. The most representative diseases are dominantly inherited Welander distal myopathy and tibial muscular dystrophy, and the recessively inherited distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles and distal muscular dystrophy(Miyoshi myopathy). At present, further study is necessary to determine why rimmed vacuoles are so common in the DM, and what role they play in the pathogenesis of muscle fiber atrophy and loss, predominantly in the distal portions of the extremities.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 1995

Legumin was purified from the endosperm cells of the ginseng seed and analyzed its characteristics. Distributional patterns of the legumin in the endosperm cells were identified using the immunocytochemical method. Legumin was glycoprotein composed of two subunits, molecular weights about 33,000 and 25,000 respectively. The molecular shape of purified legumin stained negatively seems to have hexagonal structure about 10 nm in size. It was localized at the rER, dictyosomes, and in the vacuoles at the early developing stage. Legumin was glycosylated in the dictyosomes and transported from the dictyosomes to the vacuoles. Legumin was accumulated into the central vacuole via the dictyosomes while the endosperm cells were developing. The armorphous proteins containing legumin were scattered randomly within the central vacuoles, which were aggregated together and became gradually spherical shape. Legumin was distributed within the globular protein bodies in the endosperm cells of matured seed. However legumin was not found in the globoids located in the protein bodies.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 1974

Leaf tissue of Glycine max Merr. was fixed in para-formaldehyde-glutarldehyde and postfixed in osmium tetroxide or postassium permanganate for electron microscopy. The origin of cytolysome-like organelles of mesophyll cell was studied and changes of fine structure of the organelles according to treating solutions such as gibberellin (GA), kinethin (KI), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid(2, 4-D) or 2, 4-D＋GA(1mg/l, respectively) were observed. The cylolysome-like organelles differentiate in endoplasmic reticulum and plasmalemma, and they drop into vacuoles being isolated from the formers. They seem to change into myelin-like structure and to be degenerated by autodigestion. Cytolysome-like organelles involved in cell walls and vacuoles showed activity of acid phosphatase. In the group of GA and KI treatment, cytolysome-like organelles were similar to that of the control group. But in the treatmental groups of 2,4-D and 2,4-D＋GA, myelin-like structures increased in size and autodigestion of this organelles were similar to that of the control group. But in the treatmental groups of 2,4-D and 2,4-D＋GA, myelin-like structures increased in size and autodigestion of this organelle seemed to be accelerated. In the treatmental group of 2,4-D＋GA, myelin-like structures shown high electron density were observed in cytoplasm and vacuoles together.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.448-454
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• 2020

Nine free-living heterotrophic flagellates were cultured from marine intertidal sediments and freshwater sediments from Korea. These species are described with uninterpreted records based on light microscopy of living cells and reported taxonomically for the first time from Korea. Diagnostics of these species are as follows; Notosolenus hemicircularis: 9-11.8 ㎛ long with flagellar reservoir, ventrally flattened and dorsally convex with hyaline semicircular collar around short anterior neck, and 8 ridges on cell surface. Thecamonas tranhens: 4.5-7.1 ㎛ long, plastic with proboscis comprising an anterior flagellum surrounded by membranous sleeve. Bodomorpha minima: 4.5-7.0 ㎛ long, rigid with small rostrum in anterior end and active anterior flagellum. Cercomonas hiberna: 5.6-10.9 ㎛ long, very plastic with pseudopodia, cytoplasmic strand and 1 or 2 contractile vacuoles. Cercomonas pellucida: 7.5-13 ㎛ long, plastic with pseudopodia, cytoplasmic strand and single contractile vacuole. With nucleus closely connected to basal bodies. Eocercomonas echina: 4.7-6.5 ㎛ long, plastic with pseudopodia, cytoplasmic strand and 1 or 2 contractile vacuoles. Paracercomonas astra: 5.7-7.3 ㎛ long, moderately metabolic with pseudopodia, cytoplasmic strand and 1 or 2 contractile vacuoles. Paracercomonas minima: 5-9 ㎛ long, metabolic with pseudopodia, cytoplasmic strand and single contractile vacuole. Paracercomonas producta: 6.1-9.9 ㎛ long, very metabolic with pseudopodia, long cytoplasmic strand and single contractile vacuole.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 1995

Vicilin and legumin, the storage Proteins of seed, were Purified from ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) endosperm cells. They were immunized in rabbits, and antibodies were raised respectively. Using these two antibodies, double immunogold labeling of vicilin and legumin was carried out to determine the gap of synthetic time and the transport pattern of vicilin and legumin in the ginseng endosperm cells. Vicilin and legumin were synthesized at the same time at early embryo developmental stage. They were secreted from the Golgi bodies and accumulated into the small vacuoles. As the endosperm cells developed, vicilin and legumin localized in the small vacuoles were gradually transported toward the large central vacuole where they were stored. Protein bodies were derived from the vacuoles filled with proteins and distributed in the endosperm cells of mature red seed. Protein bodies were various in size from 1 to 8 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in which vicilin and legumin were mixed each other. The number of small particles labeled on the vicilin was greater than that of large particles labeled on the legumin in the protein bodies indicating that the amount of vicilin is higher than that of legumin in the protein bodies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2014

Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV) or hereditary inclusion body myopathy 2 is an autosomal recessive muscular disorder characterized by early adult-onset weakness of distal muscles and rimmed vacuoles in muscle biopsy. Mutations in the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-ace-tylmannosamine kinase (GNE) gene are associated with the development of DMRV. In this study, whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed compound heterozygous GNE mutations of p.Asp176Val and p.Val572Leu in a patient with distal limb weakness. Three hundred healthy controls did not show these mutations. All other variants found in distal myopathy-relevant genes were polymorphic. These findings confirmed that the patient had DMRV. This work underscores the usefulness of WES in improving the molecular diagnosis of myopathy.