ISSN:
1615-6102
Keywords:
Microbodies
;
Proliferation
;
Microsporogenesis
;
Ophrys lutea
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary The maturing pollen grains ofOphrys lutea flowers contain amyloplasts and abundant lipid droplets in their cytoplasm. Few microbodies and mitochondria are seen in the proximity of lipid droplets. In successive stages, starch mobilization is immediately followed by lipid degradation. The proliferation of microbodies, confirmed by stereological analysis, is simultaneous with lipid catabolism and vacuole formation. At this stage, clusters of 10 to 20, or more, profiles of microbodies are seen in close association with lipid droplets, instead of the isolated profiles previously observed. Tilting of semi-thin sections of DAB treated material, followed by three-dimensional reconstruction showed that these microbody clusters constitute a microbody compartment which probably developed from a pre-existing one by budding. The cytochemical localization of lipase activity suggests a microbody role in lipid catabolism. The presence of active lipases in mitochondria, sometimes closely associated with lipid droplets, seems to indicate that mitochondria are also possibly involved in lipid metabolism.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01281023
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