Ultrastructure of central cell in female gametophyte of Castilleja wightii Elmer (Scrophulariaceae)

Embryo sac cells are highly differentiated in plants. The central cell is one of the most important cells of the embryo sac. It forms endosperm by fusion with a sperm cell. Ultrastructure of the central cell in the mature embryo sac of Castilleja wightii was investigated in this study. Nucleolus which had a lot of vacuole in a large secondary nucleus and numerous dictyosomes, vesicles, mitochondria, amyloplasts in cytoplasm were seen in this cell. Also free ribosomes in the form of polysomes and large lipid bodies were detected in the cytoplasm. Numerous vacuoles of different size were observed and some of them had autophagic function. Both smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulums were seen. Although invaginations were seen in the plasmalemma of the central cell to the inside of the embryo sac, a thick cuticular layer was observed outer side on the cell wall. The aim of this study was to contribute studies about the ultrastructure of embryo sacs

Ultrastructure of endothelium in ovules of Penstemon gentianoides Poir. (Scrophulariaceae) at mature embryo sac phase

In this study ultrastructural differences between endothelial cells of different location in Penstemon gentianoides have been examined with electron microscope at mature embryo sac phase. Embryo sac is of the Polygonum type and surrounded by endothelium except the micropylar region. The cuticle is located primarily around the chalazal three-fourths of the embryo sac. Endothelium cells around the chalaza and toward the micropylar region are rich in cytoplasmic organelles. The cytoplasm of endothelial cells near the central cell has large vacuoles and few organelles. There are also plasmodesmas on the anticlinal walls of endothelial cells. The endothelium and the micropylar integumentary cells play a role in transport of metabolites into the embryo sac

Protective effect of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Background: This study aims to investigate the early- and late-term effects of pharmacological inhibition of cysteinyl leukotriene activity by using montelukast in bleomycin-induced inflammatory and oxidative lung injury in an animal model. Methods: The study included 48 male Wistar albino rats (weighing 250 g to 300 g). Rats were administered intratracheal bleomycin or saline and assigned into groups to receive montelukast or saline. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue samples were collected four and 15 days after bleomycin administration. Results: Bleomycin resulted in significant increases in tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (4.0 +/- 1.4 pg/mL in controls vs. 44.1 +/- 14.5 pg/mL in early-term vs. 30.3 +/- 5.7 pg/mL in late-term, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), transforming growth factor beta 1 levels (28.6 +/- 6.6 pg/mL vs. 82.3 +/- 14.1 pg/mL in early-term vs. 60.1 +/- 2.9 pg/mL in late-term, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), and fibrosis score (1.85 +/- 0.89 in early-term vs. 5.60 +/- 1.14 in late-term, p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). In bleomycin exposed rats, collagen content increased only in the late-term (15.3 +/- 3.0 mu g/mg in controls vs. 29.6 +/- 9.1 mu g/mg in late-term, p<0.001). Montelukast treatment reversed all these biochemical indices as well as histopathological alterations induced by bleomycin. Conclusion: Montelukast attenuates bleomycin-induced inflammatory and oxidative lung injury and prevents lung collagen deposition and fibrotic response. Thus, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists might be regarded as new therapeutic agents for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis