Summary
Nuclear DNA, nuclear protein and nuclear size have been measured in cells of the cortex, pith and vascular tissue from three successive internodes in the stem of Pisum sativum. New techniques of computer-linked cytophotometry were used to measure these parameters simultaneously in both section and squash preparations. In cortical cells no endoreduplicated nuclei were seen in the internodes measured. In cortical cells from the oldest internode measured, a population of large nuclei with the 2C DNA amount was observed which was not present in the younger internodes. In the oldest pith nuclei measured a few 8C nuclei were present, but maturing pith was most characterized by increasing nuclear size and the population of nuclei accumulating with the 4C DNA amount. Polyploid nuclei were present in all of the vascular tissue measured, including the youngest internode. Maturing vascular tissue was also characterized by increasing nuclear size. Nuclear protein measurements demonstrated a close link between nuclear protein and nuclear size and suggest that increased nuclear size, with constant DNA content, may be due to increased nuclear protein. This raises the question of the nature and function of this nuclear protein, perhaps more characteristic of differentiating cells than dividing cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baetke KP, Sparrow AH, Nauman CH, Schwemmer SS (1967) The relationship of DNA content to nuclear and chromosome volumes and to radiosensitivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci 58:533–540
Bansal J, Davidson D (1978) Heterogeneity of meristematic cells of Vicia faba: evidence from nuclear and chromosome volumes and from nuclear protein content. Caryologia 31:161–177
Bennett MD (1970) Natural variation in nuclear characters of meristems in Vicia faba. Chromosoma 29:317–335
Böhm N, Sprenger E, Schlütter G, Sandritter W (1968) Proportionalitatsfehler bei der Feulgen Hydrolyse. Histochemie 15:194–203
Buvat R (1965) Les bases cytologiques de la differentiation et de la dédifférentiation chez les plantes. In: Ruhland W (ed) Handbuch der Pflanzenphysiologie, Vol 15. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 100–145
Cavalier-Smith T (1978) Nuclear volume control by nucleoskeletal DNA, selection for cell volume and cell growth rate, and the solution of the DNA C-value paradox. J Cell Sci 34:247–278
D'Amato F (1977) Nuclear cytology in relation to development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Deeley EM, Davies HG, Chayen J (1957) The DNA content of cells in the root of Vicia faba. Exp Cell Res 12:582–591
Evans LS, Van't Hof, J (1975) Is polyploidy necessary for tissue differentiation in higher plants? Am J Bot 62:1060–1064
Feldman LJ, Torrey JG (1977) Nuclear changes associated with cellular dedifferentiation in pea root cortical cells cultured in vitro. J Cell Sci 28:87–105
Graumann W (1953) Zur Standardisierung des Schiffschen Reagens Z Wiss Mikrosk 61:225–226
Gurr E (1966) Rational use of dyes in biology. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Libbenga KR, Torrey JG, (1973) Hormone-induced endoreduplication prior to mitosis in cultured pea root cortical cells. Am J Bot 60:293–299
Lyndon RF (1968) The nucleus-its structure, function and development. In: Pridham JB (ed) Plant cell organelles. Academic Press, London
McLeish J, Sunderland N (1971) Measurement of DNA in higher plants by Feulgen photometry and chemical methods. Exp Cell Res 24:527–540
Mitchell JP (1967) Combined protein and DNA measurements in plant cell using the dinitrofluorobenzene and Feulgen techniques. J R Microsc Soc 87:375–381
Mitchell JP, Van der Ploeg M, Van Duijn P (1981) Combined staining procedures for cytophotometry of protein and DNA:Feulgen-Naphthol Yellow S and dinitrofluorobenzene-Feulgen. Histochemistry 73:211–223
Nagl W (1978) Endopolyploidy and polyteny in differentiation and evolution. North Holland, Amsterdam
Patau K, Das NK, Skoog F, (1977) Induction of DNA synthesis by kinetin an indoleacetic acid in excised tobacco pith tissue. Physiol Plant 10:949–966
Shah JJ (1963) Coenocytic vessel elements in Dioscorea alata L. Nature 197:1125
Tschermak-Woess E (1956) Karyologische Pflanzenanatomie. Protoplasma 46:798–834
Van der Ploeg M, Van den Broek K, Smeulders AWM, Vossepoel AM, Van Duijn P (1977) HIDACSYS: Computer programs for interactive scanning cytophotometry. Histochemistry 54:273–288
Van der Ploeg M, Van den Broek K, Mitchell JP (1979) Dual wavelength scanning cytophotometry (BICOSCAN). Histochemistry 72:29–43
Webster PL (1979) Heterogeneity of nuclear volumes and interphase nuclear growth in cells of root apical meristems. Plant Sci Lett 14:23–31
Woodard J, Rasch EM, Swift H (1961) Nucleic acid and protein metabolism during the mitotic cycle in Vicia faba. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 9:445–462
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
To whom offprint requests should be sent
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mitchell, J.P., van der Ploeg, M. Nuclear changes accompanying cell differentiation in stems of Pisum sativum L.. Histochemistry 75, 327–340 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496736
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496736