The fine structure of the tapetum of the cat eye has been investigated by electron microscopy. The tapetum is made up of modified choroidal cells, seen as polygonal plates grouped around penetrating blood vessels which terminate in the anastomosing capillary network of the choriocapillaris. The tapetal cells are rectangular in cross-section, set in regular brick-like rows, and attain a depth of some thirty-five cell layers in the central region. This number is gradually reduced peripherally, and is replaced at the margin of the tapetum by normal choroidal tissue. The individual cells are packed with long slender rods 0.1 /z by 4 to 5/z. The rods are packed in groups and with their long axes oriented roughly parallel to the plane of the retinal surface. Each cell contains several such groups. Cells at the periphery or in the outer layers of the tapetum are frequently seen to contain both tapetal rods and melanin granules, the latter typical of the choroidal melanocytes. Also rnelanocyte granules may have intermediate shapes. These observations plus the similar density of the two inclusions lead to the belief that the tapetal rods may be melanin derivatives.A fibrous connective tissue layer lies between the tapetum and the retina. The subretinal capillary network, the choriocapillaris, rests on this layer and is covered by the basement membrane of the retinal epithelium. The cytoplasm of the retinal epithelium exhibits marked absorptive modifications where it comes in contact with the vessels of the choriocapillaris. This fibrous layer and the basement membrane of the retinal epithelium apparently comprise the structural elements of Bruch's membrane.

The ultrastructure of the cells of the enamel organ related to enamel formation was studied using the lower incisors of adult male rats. In the region of enamel deposition, stratum intermedium cells are stabilized by a system of intercellular bridges and intracellular fibrils. The mitochondria in these cells are positioned toward the extracellular channels through which any direct intercellular exchange between the capillaries and ameloblasts must occur. Tentatively, the mitochondrial arrangement is considered to be related to the movements of electrolytes and water across the capillary-ameloblast interval.In the region of transition, enamel deposition ceases and the ergastoplasm of the ameloblasts is removed, apparently by cytosegresomes, with an accompanying reduction in the height of the ameloblasts. Here, vesicles containing stippled material are infrequent compared to their occurrence in ameloblasts concerned with enamel deposition. Other vesicles, characteristically found in ameloblasts related to maturing enamel, f i s t appear in the transition region and seem to originate from the cell membrane abutting on the enamel.In the region of maturation, cytosomes are common in the Golgi region whereas vesicles and mitochondria predominate in the distal ends of the ameloblasts. The papillary cells contain an unusually large number of mitochondria, elaborate microvilli and vesicles, which suggests that these cells are extremely active, presumably in the movement of materials related to enamel maturation.The changes in structure of the papillary cells, which occur concomitantly with those of the ameloblasts during enamel formation, are indicative of interrelated functional changes and strongly support the concept of ameloblasts and papillary cells acting together as a functional unit.

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