Porcine skin (PS) gelatin showed antitumor effect in vitro on MH134 murine hepatoma cells. We analyzed the effect of PS gelatin on MH134 cells compared to the effect of Bovine bone (BB) gelatin, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38). We previously suggested that PS gelatin induces apoptosis in MH134 cells using flow cytometric analysis. We performed agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopic studies to ascertain apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed the typical DNA ladder pattern and electron microscopic findings revealed characteristic features in the case of apoptosis on PS gelatin. SN-38 also showed DNA ladder pattern and ultrastructural changes in apoptosis. 5-FU didn't show DNA ladder pattern but electron microscope revealed changes in necrosis. On the other hand, BB gelatin didn't induce apoptosis or necrosis.

Ultrastructural identification of light microscopic giant mitochondria was performed on the same specimens for light and electron microscopic observations. The liver tissue specimens were fixed in OsO4, embedded in epoxy resin, cut 4 microns thick and stained with polychrome. At the beginning of the study a light microscopic observation was made, and a microphotograph was taken. The identification of light microscopic giant mitochondria by conventional microscopy was identified by the occupation rate in liver cells, the negative findings of stainability and the morphological consistency (round, cigar-shaped and granular). The specimens were subsequently embedded again in epoxy resin and cut into ultrathin sections of 400 A. A transillumination electron microscope was used for the observation, and ultrastructural images of light microscopic giant mitochondria revealed that they were crystalloid bodies with a crystalline latticelike structure. The occupation rates within liver cells and the morphological shapes of the crystalloid bodies corresponded with those of light microscopic giant mitochondria. The light microscopic giant mitochondria obviously had different features from those of electron microscopic giant mitochondria and Mallory bodies (Yokoo's type II), although Mallory bodies showed the same staining properties as light microscopic giant mitochondria.

Abstract

The cuticle is composed of five cell layers in the cross section of the hair at a level of 100 mm above the scalp. Intercellular junctions between two cuticular cells are zonulae occludentes (tight junction); they consist of five layers. The gap junctions of the intercellular communications occur near the cortex. The trichohyalin granule appears in the cuticular cells of completely cornified head hair. The granule is generally smaller than that of the keratohyalin granule, and spherical in shape. The granule is not visible in the area near the surface of the hair. The keratin in the cytoplasm of the cuticular cell may originate from the trichohyalin granule.

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