Summary
The ruthenium red “staining” of the surface coats was studied in the adrenal medullary cells of golden hamster. Both immersion and perfusion fixation was used with the ruthenium red containing fixative, however, only the perfusion fixation gave positive results. A rather thick electron dense ruthenium red positive layer was found on the plasma membrane of the endothelial cells, around the capillaries in the basal lamina, in the basement membrane of the chromaffin cells as well as on the apical and lateral cell surfaces of the adrenomedullary cells. Coated pits and coated vesicles usually showed an intensive ruthenium red staining, but the other cell components in the cytoplasm did not. On the basis of these observations author suggests that the ruthenium red positive material corresponds to acidic mucopolysaccharides in the hamster adrenal medulla, and its wide-ranging occurrence is indicative of its significance in the secretion process of catecholamines.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benedeczky, I., Smith, A. D.: Ultrastructural studies on the adrenal medulla of golden hamster: origin and fate of secretory granues. Z. Zellforsch. 124, 367–386 (1972).
Erichsen, S., Eng, J., Morgan, H. R.: Comparative studies in Rous sarcoma with virus, tumor cells and chick embryo cells transformed in vitro by virus. I. Production of mucopolisaccharides. J. exp. Med. 114, 435–440 (1961).
Fawcet, D. W.: Surface specializations of absorbing cells. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13, 75–91 (1965).
Gustafson, G. T., Pihl, E.: Histochemical application of ruthenium red in the study of mast cell ultrastructure. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 69, 393–403 (1967).
Holtzman, E., Dominitz, R.: Cytochemical studies of lysosomes, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum in secretion and protein uptake by adrenal medulla cells of the rat. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 320–336 (1968).
Kajikawa, K., Nakanishi, I., Hori, I., Matsuda, Y., Kondo, K.: Electron microscopic observation on connective tissues using ruthenium red. J. Electronmicroscopy 19, 1–8 (1970).
Katchalsky, A.: Polyelectrolytes and their biological interactions. Biophys. J., Suppl. 4, 9–41 (1964).
Laurent, T. C.: In vitro studies on the transport of macromolecules through the connective tissue. Fed. Proc. 25, 1128–1134 (1966).
Luft, J. H.: Electron microscopy of cell extraneous coats as revealed by ruthenium red staining. J. Cell Biol. 23, 54 A abstract (1964).
Luft, J. H.: Fine structure of capillary and endocapillary layer as revealed by ruthenium red. Fed. Proc. 25, 1773–1783 (1966).
Martinez-Palomo, A.: The surface coat of animal cells. Int. Rev. Cytol. 29, 29–75 (1970).
Morgan, H. R.: Ultrastructure of the surfaces of cells, infected with avian leukosis-sarcoma virus. J. Virol. 2, 1133–1146 (1968).
Rambourg, A., Neutra, M., Leblond, C. P.: Presence of a “cell coat” rich in carbohydrate at the surface of cells in the rat. Anat. Rec. 154, 41–72 (1966).
Rogers, H. J.: The structure and function of hyaluronate. Biochem. Soc. Symp. 20, 51–79 (1961).
Schubert, M.: Intercellular macromolecules containing polisaccharides. Biophys. J., Suppl. 4, 119–138 (1964).
Tani, E., Ametani, T.: Extracellular distribution of ruthenium red positive substance in the cerebral cortex. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 34, 1–14 (1971).
Winzler, R. J.: Carbohydrates in cell surfaces. Int. Rev. Cytol. 29, 77–125 (1970).
Zugibe, F. T., Finh, M. L.: A new ion association technique for demonstrating polyanions in tissues section. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 147–152 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Wellcome Research Fellow.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Benedeczky, I., Smith, A.D. Ruthenium red staining of the hamster adrenal medulla. Histochemie 32, 213–219 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306029
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306029