Summary
Outer segments from the retina of the guinea pig have been examined with the freeze-etch technique. In many ways their appearance corroborates previous descriptions of their fine structure. However, the fracture faces of the disc membrane are distinctive and unlike those of any other membrane examined by freeze-etching. One face has the appearance of shallow, irregularly shaped pits surrounded by steep, interconnecting ridges. The other face has the appearance of worn cobblestone pavement. The “stones” are somewhat irregularly shaped, are tightly packed together, and have dimensions of 200–250 Å. In transverse fracture, a single disc membrane is represented by a pair of ridges and has a thickness of about 90 Å.
Evidence is presented that the disc membranes split during fracture and that the two faces seen in freeze-etched replicas are apposed in the intact membrane. This interpretation, assuming fractures split membranes, is compared with one assuming fractures occur along membrane surfaces. The inadequacies of both interpretations are discussed. Plastic deformation can occur during fracture. Such deformation may explain some interpretational difficulties and may account for the lack of perfect match between the two fracture faces in the disc membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blasie, J. K., M. M. Dewey, A. E. Blaurock, and C. R. Worthington: Electron microscope and low-angle X-ray diffraction studies on outer segment membranes from the retina of a frog. J. molec. Biol. 14, 143–152 (1965).
Branton, D.: Fracture faces of frozen membranes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci (Wash.) 55, 1048–1056 (1966).
—: Fracture faces of frozen myelin. Exp. Cell Res. 45, 203–207 (1967).
—, and R. B. Park: Subunits in chloroplast lamellae. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 19, 283–303 (1967).
—, and D. Southworth: Fracture faces of frozen Chlorella and Saccharomyces cells. Exp. Cell Res. 47, 648–653 (1967).
Brown, P. K., I. R. Gibbons, and G. Wald: The visual cells and visual pigment of the mudpuppy, Necturus. J. Cell Biol. 19, 79–106 (1963).
Cohen, A. I.: Vertebrate retinal cells and their organization. Biol. Rev. 38, 427–459 (1963).
Deamer, D. W., and D. Branton: Fracture places in an ice-bilayer model membrane system. Science 158, 655–657 (1967).
DeRobertis, E., and A. Lasansky: Ultrastructure and chemical organization of photoreceptors. In: The structure of the eye, ed. by G. Smelser, p. 29–49. New York: Academic Press 1961.
Eichberg, J., and H. H. Hess: The lipid composition of frog retinal rod outer segments Experientia (Basel) 23, 993–994 (1967).
Fernández-Morán, H.: Membrane ultrastructure in nerve cells. In: The neurosciences, a survey for synthesis. Based on the Neurosciences Research Program, Boulder, Colorado 1966.
Koehler, J. K.: Freeze-etching on nucleated erythrocytes with special reference to the nuclear and plasma membranes. Z. Zellforsch. 85, 1–17 (1968).
Kuwabara, T.: Microtubules in the retina. Eye Structure II. Symp., ed. by J. W. Rohen, p. 69–84. Stuttgart: Schattauer 1965.
McConnell, D. G.: The isolation of retinal outer segment fragments. J. Cell Biol. 27, 459–473 (1965).
Moor, H.: Use of freeze-etching in the study of biological ultrastructure. Int. Rev. exp. Path. 5, 179–216 (1966).
—, K. Mühlethaler, H. Waldner, and A. Frey-Wyssling: A new freezing-ultramicrotome. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 10, 1–13 (1961).
Mühlethaler, K., H. Moore, and J. W. Szarkowski: The ultrastructure of the chloroplast lamellae. Planta (Berl.) 67, 305–323 (1965).
Nilsson, S. E. G.: The ultrastructure of the receptor outer segments in the retina of the leopard frog (Sana pipiens). J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 207–231 (1965).
Park, R. G., and L. K. Shumway: The ultrastructure of fracture and deep etch faces of spinach thylakoids. In: Comparative biochemistry and biophysics of photosynthesis, ed. by K. Shibata, A. Takamiya, A. T. Jagendorf, and R. C. Fuller. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press 1968.
Robertson, J. D.: The structure and function of subcellular components. The ultrastructure of cell membranes and their derivatives. Biochem. Soc. Symp. 16, 3–43 (1959).
—: Granulo-fibrillar substructure in unit membranes. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 137, 421–440 (1966a).
—: Design principles of the unit membrane. In: Ciba Foundation Symposium: Principles of biomolecular organization. London 1965, ed. by G. E. W. Wolstenholme and M. O'Connor. Boston: Little, Brown 1966 b.
Schmidt, W. J.: Doppelbrechung, Dichroismus und Feinbau des Außengliedes der Sehzellen vom Frosch. Z. Zellforsch. 22, 485–522 (1935).
—: Polarisationsoptische Analyse der Verknüpfung von Protein- und Lipoidmolekeln, erläutert am Außenglied der Sehzellen der Wirbeltiere. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 23, 158–183 (1951).
Sjöstrand, F. S.: The ultrastructure of the outer segments of the rods and cones of the eye as revealed by the electron microscope. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 42, 45–70 (1953).
—: Electron microscopy in the retina. In: The structure of the eye, ed. by G. Smelser, p. 1–28. New York: Academic 1961.
Steere, R. L.: Electron microscopy of structural detail in frozen biological specimens. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 45–60 (1957).
Trowell, O.A.: The optimum concentration of sodium chloride for the survival of lymphocytes in vitro. Exp. Cell Res. 29, 220–224 (1963).
Wald, G., P. K. Brown, and I. R. Gibbons: The problem of visual excitation. J. opt. Soc. Amer. 53, 20–35 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB 6263. — Supported in part by a fellowship from the National Institutes of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (NB-34,870) and in part by NIH Grant GM 10,292. — Grateful acknowledgment is made to Miss Susan Whytock for invaluable technical assistance during the course of this investigation. We also thank Prof. Richard M. Eakin for his encouragement, support and advice.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clark, A.W., Branton, D. Fracture faces in frozen outer segments from the guinea pig retina. Z.Zellforsch 91, 586–603 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455276
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455276