Summary
The occurrence of structural connections between myocardial granules and tubular elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cardiac ventricle of the Atlantic hagfish is described. The core substance of the myocardial granules is shown to be uranophilic and in this respect similar to the granular cores within the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
After application of CaCl2-containing fixatives, the ultrastructure of the core substance of these organelles resembles that described for calcium-containing structures in vertebrate glial cells. Incidences of uranophilic core substance in the extracellular space suggest a secretory function of the myocardial granules. Possible implications of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the myocardial granules in storage, intracellular transport, and secretion of bound calcium are discussed.
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The authors are indebted to the Biological Station, University of Bergen, Espegrend, for supply of Myxine, to the Aquarium of Bergen for assistance in keeping of the animals, to the Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Diseases for financial support, and to Mrs. A. Heilund for skilful technical assistance. Thanks are also due to Dr. Thv. Sætersdal for valuable criticism of the manuscript, and to the Institute of Anatomy, University of Bergen, for the use of their Siemens and Philipps electron microscopes.
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Helle, K.B., Storesund, A. Ultrastructural evidence for a direct connection between the myocardial granules and the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cardiac ventricle of Myxine glutinosa (L.). Cell Tissue Res. 163, 353–363 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219469
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219469