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Lampbrush Chromosomes01:51

Lampbrush Chromosomes

In 1882, Flemming observed lampbrush chromosomes (LBC) in salamander eggs. Later in 1892, Rückert observed LBCs in shark egg cells and coined the term "lampbrush chromosomes" because they looked like brushes used to clean kerosene lamps.
LBCs are made up of two pairs of conjugating homologous chromatids. Each chromatid consists of alternatively positioned regions of condensed-inactive chromatin and loosely placed-active side loops, which can be contracted and extended. The loops resemble the...

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Surgical Removal of a Complex Sensory Organ in Highly Regenerative Ctenophores
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Operculum ultrastructure in leech cocoons.

Anthony M Rossi1, William M Saidel, Roberto Marotta

  • 1Department of Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Camden, New Jersey 08102, USA.

Journal of Morphology
|April 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Leech cocoons are sealed by opercula, a glue-like material. Microscopic analysis reveals a unique mosaic structure and nanoparticles, suggesting a convergent bioadhesion mechanism across diverse animal species.

Keywords:
bioadhesiveclitellateegg caseelectron microscopyopercula

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Clitellate annelids, including leeches, produce cocoons as a reproductive strategy.
  • Cocoon sealing involves opercula, a biomaterial secreted by the clitellum, which exhibits remarkable thermal and chemical resilience.
  • The cocoon wall (CW) and opercula are chemically related, sharing unique physiochemical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ultrastructure and morphology of leech cocoon opercula.
  • To compare opercular structures across different leech species.
  • To identify potential mechanisms of bioadhesion in leech cocoons.

Main Methods:

  • Examination of cocoons from four leech species: Myzobdella lugubris, Theromyzon tessulatum, Erpobdella obscura, and Erpobdella punctata.
  • Utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyze opercular ultrastructure.
  • Employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe surface morphology and nanoparticle presence.

Main Results:

  • TEM revealed a consistent ultrastructural pattern in all examined opercula: an electron-dense mosaic of ordered polygons with interspersed cavities.
  • Cavity orientation suggests operculum material is pliable before solidification and becomes distorted during cocoon deposition.
  • SEM identified globular nanoparticles in leech opercula, similar to those found in other animal bioadhesives.
  • Opercula permeate the cocoon sheath, forming a mechanically robust boundary.

Conclusions:

  • Leech cocoon opercula possess a distinct, ordered ultrastructure.
  • The observed nanoparticles suggest a convergent evolutionary mechanism for bioadhesion across various animal phyla.
  • The findings provide insights into the material properties and formation of leech cocoons and bioadhesives.