Histological and ultrastructural observations of eosinophilic keratohyalin granules in filiform papillae of pig tongue

Cells in filiform papillae of pig tongue possess distinct granules that stain with eosin but little or none with hematoxylin. This eosinophilia differs from the classically described basophilia of keratohyalin granules as is described in skin and keratinized oral mucosa of many species. At the ultrastructural level, electron-dense granules were observed in the cytoplasm and occasionally in the nuclei of cells within the papillae. The granules were round, oval or irregular in shape and varied in size and density. The ultrastructural characterization of these eosinophilic granules is the first reported in the literature.     

Morphometric analysis of atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules in atriocytes of rats with experimental congestive heart failure

The morphometric characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules were studied in atrial myoendocrine cells of rats with aorto-caval fistula, an experimental model of congestive heart failure. A total of 6680 granules of control and aorto-caval rats were analyzed by a computerized image analysis system that evaluated the number and sectioned surface area of granules and their subcellular location. Compared with control animals, rats with congestive heart failure displayed a slight increase in the number of peripheral granules, adjacent to the sarcolemma, but not centrally located in the Golgi areas. The mean sectioned surface area of granules in rats with congestive heart failure was about 50% of that in controls, both in the right and left atria. Rats with aortocaval fistula had a higher percent of small granules and lower percent of large granules compared with controls. The data demonstrate different morphometric characteristics in atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules in atriocytes in rats with experimental congestive heart failure; this may reflect the enhanced synthesis and release of atrial natriuretic peptide in heart failure.     

Ultrastructure of pigeon peripheral blood cells]

The ultrastructural organization of erythrocytes, thrombocytes and white cells (pseudoeosinophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes) of the peripheral blood was studied in the pigeon Columba livia. The specific granules of eosinophils do not contain crystalloid structures characteristic of eosinophilic granules of certain respresentatives of fishes and mammals. Specific basophilic granules are of a large size and have homogeneous osmophilic matrix. The ultrastructure of agranulocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) have no substantial distinctions from the similar cells of other representatives of vertebrates.     

Eosinophilic metaplasia of the prostate: a newly described lesion distinct from other eosinophilic changes in prostatic epithelium

OBJECTIVE: To describe the morphologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of large, intensely eosinophilic cytoplasmic granules in prostatic epithelial cells in the benign prostate, as well as the prevalence of this condition. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred twenty prostate needle biopsies and 104 radical prostatectomy specimens were examined for the presence of eosinophilic granules in benign prostatic epithelium. RESULTS: We found benign prostatic cells with bright eosinophilic granules in 13 of 84 (16%) negative prostate needle biopsies, 3 of 13 (23%) needle biopsies with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, 15 of 123 (12%) needle biopsies with adenocarcinoma and 21 of 104 (20%) radical prostatectomy specimens. Benign prostatic cells with eosinophilic granules were more commonly seen in prostatic ductal epithelium than acinar epithelium. They were usually focal and associated with variable degrees of chronic inflammation and atrophy. They differed from neuroendocrine cells with large eosinophilic granules by supranuclear location of granules, negative immunostaining for some neuroendocrine markers and presence of large exocrine-type electron-dense granules. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic metaplasia of the prostate appears to represent a form of nonspecific histologic change in response to altered cellular milieu in the prostate.     

Composition and ultrastructure of elasmobranch granulocytes. II. Rays (Rajiformes)

The blood granulocyte composition of seven species of ray is given together with ultrastructural observations made on the epigonal organ and blood of Pavoraja spinifera and the spleen of a deepwater rajid skate. Under the light microscope three granulocyte types, eosinophils, eosinophilic granulocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes could be distinguished. At the EM level two granulocyte types were apparent, one with elongated granules containing longitudinal fibrils that consolidated to form an axial rod-like inclusion, and the other with large, spherical, uniformly electron-dense granules. Correlation of light and electron microscope observations indicated that the neutrophilic granulocytes with weakly basophilic, elongated granules become weakly eosinophilic, as eosinophilic granulocytes, and these in turn develop to eosinophils with granules containing axial rods. The other granulocyte type forms another population of eosinophils with spherical granules.
The inter-relationship of these granulocytes, the identification of eosinophilic granulocytes, or heterophils, as immature eosinophils, and the co-existence of two morphologically distinct eosinophil forms are discussed.     

Morula-like cells in photo-symbiotic clams harboring zooxanthellae

Symbiosis is observed between zooxanthellae, symbiotic dinoflagellates, and giant clams and related clams which belong to the families Tridacnidae and Cardiidae. We have previously shown that a photo-symbiotic clam Tridacna crocea has three types of hemocytes, the eosinophilic granular hemocyte with phagocytic activity, the agranular cell with electron lucent granules, and the morula-like cell with large (ca. 2 mum in diameter) colorless granules. The function of the morula-like cell is not clear, but it has not been reported in any other bivalves except photo-symbiotic clams T. crocea and Tridacna maxima. In order to clarify whether it is specific to photo-symbiotic clams or not, we studied hemocytes in the photo-symbiotic clams Tridacna derasa (Tridacnidae), Hippopus hippopus (Tridacnidae) and Corculum cardissa (Cardiidae), and a closely related non-symbiotic clam Fulvia mutica (Cardiidae). The eosinophilic granular hemocytes and the agranular cells were found in all of the clams examined. However, the morula-like cells which were packed with many large electron dense granules (ca. 2 mum in diameter), were observed only in the photo-symbiotic clams. In F. mutica, a closely related non-symbiotic clam, this type of hemocyte was not found. Instead a hemocyte with vacuoles and a few large granules containing peroxidase activity was observed. The large granules of F. mutica varied in size from ca. 1-9 mum in diameter. Present data suggests that the presence of morula-like cells is restricted to photo-symbiotic clams and that the hemocytes associated with the morula-like cells may have some functional relationship to symbiosis with zooxanthellae.     

Identification of elastase in human eosinophils: immunolocalization, isolation, and partial characterization.

Although an elastolytic activity in eosinophil-rich cell fractions from mice has been reported, this enzyme has not been purified and characterized as yet in any mammalian species. Eosinophilic elastase was isolated from human eosinophil fragments (cytosomes) obtained from normal and eosinophilic subjects. The enzyme was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity by fast protein liquid chromatography. The enzyme shows the same physical properties of the major elastase isoenzyme of human neutrophils. In addition, like monocyte elastase, it reacts with a monoclonal antibody against human neutrophil elastase. The biochemical similarities observed between the above-mentioned enzymes and the immunolocalization findings strongly support the idea that human eosinophils and neutrophils contain the same enzyme activity. Eosinophils show immunoreactive material in both types of dense cytoplasmic granules. This observation supports the current hypothesis that the different types of eosinophilic granules represent successive morphological stages of maturation.     

A cytochemical, light and electron microscopic study of the eosinophilic granule cells in the gut of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

The distribution, morphology and cytochemistry of the eosinophilic granule cells in the gut of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri , were studied using light and electron microscopes. Granule cells were associated generally with the propria of the gut wall, the majority being arranged in a definitive layer, as a stratum granulosum. The cytoplasm of the eosinophilic granule cells contained numerous spherical, membrane-bound, homogeneous electron-dense granules, ranging from 0·1–1·3 urn in diameter. A portion of the cytoplasm located towards one pole of the cell was usually devoid of organelles other than ribosomes. Whatever their location, the eosinophilic granule cells were always associated with fixed connective tissue cells, referred to here as 'ensheathing' cells. Phospholipid, acid mucopoly-saccharide and the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase and 5-nucleotidase were demonstrated in the granules. It is hypothesized that the 'ensheathing' cells and eosinophilic granule cells constitute a part of the body defence mechanism.     

光魟毒腺的显微和超微结构

为探讨魟类螫伤机理,用光镜和电镜观察了光魟的毒棘腹外侧纵沟内的毒腺的组织结构。结果表明：光魟的毒腺为复层上皮。从基底面到游离面依次为基底层、棘细胞层和嗜酸性细胞层。基底层细胞和棘层的细胞嗜碱性,棘细胞间有少量、散在分布的嗜酸性细胞;棘细胞的外层至腺上皮的游离面的嗜酸性细胞密集排列。电镜下可见基底细胞有丰富的核糖体。棘细胞内粗面内质网、高尔基复合体等较丰富。嗜酸性细胞内有电子密度低的膜包分泌颗粒;接近表面的细胞内颗粒部分融合;表层细胞核消失,胞质充满融合的颗粒,游离面侧的胞膜呈角质样增厚。腺上皮内还可见到黑色素细胞、郎格罕细胞和梅克尔细胞。提示毒腺组织内有两种类型的细胞,一类为毒液形成细胞,另一类为非毒液形成细胞。嗜酸性细胞内的电子密度低的膜包分泌颗粒成分可能是造成螫伤剧痛及全身症状的关键因素。     

Lobster (Homarus americanus) hemocytes: Classification,differential counts,and associated agglutinin activity

Four hemocyte types were recognized in the lobster based on size and refractile nature of the granules, the ratios of cytoplasm to nucleus, and Giemsa stain characteristics. Two hyaline types were designated as prohyalocytes (1.8%) and hyalocytes (64.2%), and two granular types were termed eosinophilic granulocytes (12.2%) and chromophobic granulocytes (21.9%). There was no significant difference in the percentages of the different hemocyte types (differential hemocyte counts) between sexes, but hyalocyte and eosinophilic granulocyte percentages varied significantly between populations of lobsters. The data suggested that the difference in agglutinin activity (HA) between lobsters with the same total hemocyte numbers was due to activity associated with fixed hemocytes or quantitative differences in HA activity associated with one or more hemocyte types, rather than an increase in the percentage of any one particular type in circulation.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide in the granular cells of the snail heart

Cardiomyocytes of vertebrates combine contractile and endocrine functions. They synthesize and secrete atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is localized in their specific granules. The presence of ANP has been shown in some tissues of invertebrates, including the heart of molluscs. We have studied localization of ANP in cells of the snail heart. METHOD: The atrial and ventricular tissues of the snail Helix pomatia were studied by electron microscope immunocytochemistry, using anti-ANP antibodies. ANP-immunoreactivity has been detected in granules of granular cells located on the luminal surface of the snail myocardium. These cells are abundant in the atrium being very rare in the ventricle. Granular cells at different stages of maturation were revealed. Immature granular cells have light granules of moderate size with homogeneous tight content, while mature granular cells are huge in size and all their granules are fused together. The material of these granules loosens up and almost completely fills up the cytoplasm. No ANP-immunoreactivity was observed in muscle cells or nerve fibers. A possible origin of granular cells from the cardiac endothelial cells is discussed. The molluscan heart, similar to that of vertebrates, is a bifunctional organ. However, contrary to the heart of vertebrates, in the molluscan heart contractile and endocrine functions are separated between different types of cells.     

流式细胞术结合组织学方法对柄海鞘血细胞的分类

用流式细胞术研究柄海鞘(Styela clava)血细胞的分类,依据细胞大小及颗粒的复杂程度将血细胞分为5类:即类群R1-R5,各类群分别占血细胞总数的37.15%4±1.01%、15.85%4±2.91%、16.15%4±1.58%、23.65%±3.05%、5.87%±0.31%,上机血样品的密度约106个/ml.组织学方法依据细胞大小、所含颗粒的情况及细胞的染色特征将血细胞分为5类:成血细胞、透明细胞、嗜碱性颗粒细胞、嗜酸性颗粒细胞及吞噬细胞.对两种方法各自所分5类细胞的对应关系进行了讨论.     

Implications of QRS duration in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure

The objective of this study was to find out the implication of QRS duration in dogs with rapid pacing-induced heart failure. Sixteen Beagle dogs were implanted with transvenous cardiac pacemakers and underwent rapid right ventricular pacing for 3 weeks at 260 bpm to induce heart failure. Dogs were divided into two groups according to the QRS duration: 9 with normal QRS duration (<100 ms) and 7 with prolonged QRS duration (≥100 ms). Cardiac systolic function and size was analyzed by real time 3-dimensional echocardiography and left ventricular dyssynchrony was assessed by speckle tracking strain imaging. Congestive heart failure developed 3 weeks after rapid right ventricular pacing. Dogs with prolonged QRS duration showed more extensive radial strain and circumferential strain dyssynchrony than dogs with normal QRS duration. At the end of 4-week recovery, greater improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-systolic volume was detected in dogs with normal QRS duration. The findings suggested that left ventricular dyssynchrony, indicated by a prolonged QRS duration, predicted an unsatisfying recovery in dogs with rapid pacing-induced heart failure. QRS duration had the potential to be a prognostic indicator for dogs with heart failure.     

Ultrastructure of proteinaceous bladder plugs in male rats

Proteinaceous plugs in the bladder (bladder plugs) were found in male rats with an incidence of 14.1 to 17.8% in ages ranging from 10 weeks to 2 years. No evidence of urinary obstruction was found due to the plugs, but they appeared to irritate the bladder epithelium mechanically causing denudation. Consequently, exfoliated epithelial cells were incorporated into the plugs. Early in development, the plugs consisted of loosely organized eosinophilic masses with fine eosinophilic granules and fenestrated filaments in which eosinophilic globules were suspended. The components of plugs were similar to that contained in seminal vesicles. Subsequently, the plugs became more compact in structure with formation of densely interwoven amphophilic trabeculae containing exfoliated cells and spermatozoa. The periphery of the plugs was surrounded by exfoliated cells, cellular debris, eosinophilic granular materials and spermatozoa. Under electron microscopy, the eosinophilic granules surrounding the plugs were dense aggregates of electron-dense globules and vesicles derived from disintegrated bladder epithelium. The amphophilic trabeculae had a dense compact granular structure consisting of densely aggregated protein globules with a filamentous network. The intertrabecular proteinaceous material had a spongy like structure consisting of sparsely scattered protein globules with fine fenestrated filaments. Proteinaceous plugs having exfoliated cells and spermatozoa were found also in the male accessory sex glands. The plugs in the urinary bladder or male sex accessory glands appeared to be developed from back-flow of semen following ejaculatory disturbance.     

Effects of expansion of blood volume and bilateral vagotomy on specific heart granules and release of atrial natriuretic peptide in the rat

Summary There was no statistically significant difference in basal concentrations of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), as assessed by radioimmunoassay, between right and left atrial muscle of control rats; similarly, stereological analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the fractional volume of myocytes occupied by specific heart granules, or in numerical density of granules, between right and left atria. Nevertheless, correlated radioimmunoassay and ultrastructural investigations showed that the major source of elevated plasma levels of ANP after expansion of blood volume was the right atrium. Substantial expansion of blood volume caused an increase in the proportion of peripherally located granules in myocytes of both atria, but reduction in the number of granules and in the concentration and total content of ANP occurred in the right atrium only. Bilateral cervical vagotomy also caused a statistically significant elevation of plasma ANP concentration, accompanied by a statistically significant reciprocal reduction in right atrial ANP content; no statistically significant change occurred in left atrial ANP. When blood volume was expanded after bilateral vagotomy, there was a further statistically significant increase in plasma ANP concentration; this was accompanied by further reduction in right atrial ANP and, moreover, the combined manoeuvre also elicited a statistically significant reduction of ANP in the left atrium. Ultrastructural studies confirmed that, under these conditions, myocytes in both atria showed a marked depletion of specific heart granules.     

Fine structure of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-granules in the atrial cardiocytes of the mouse, rat and Mongolian gerbil.

Mouse, rat and Mongolian gerbil atrial and ventricular cardiocytes were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the right atrium including the auricle was examined by transmission electron microscopy. In addition the ANP granules of both right atrial and auricular cardiocytes were analyzed by ultrastructural morphometry. ANP immunoreactivity was detected in the atria of all three species, and the most intensely reacting cardiocytes were localized in the right auricular part of the atrium. These reactions were more prominent in the mouse and rat than in the Mongolian gerbil. ANP immunoreactivity was not detected in the ventricular myocardium of any of the three species, but was occasionally seen in the subendocardium of the ventricular septum. Ultrastructurally, the ANP granules in the auricular and atrial cardiocytes were observed to be variable in size and number, and these granules were located principally in the paranuclear region in association with the Golgi apparatus, and found throughout the sarcoplasmic layers in all three species. The ANP granules were classified into two types: A-granules containing a conspicuous electron-dense core possessing a membrane, and B-granules having profiles with a fibrillogranular, less electron-dense core than the A-granules and an indistinct membrane. The features of these granules were similar in all three species. When examined by ultrastructural morphometry, the number of each type granule and the total number of granules in the right auricular and atrial cardiocytes of the mouse and rat were significantly greater than in the Mongolian gerbil. The total number of granules in the right auricular cardiocytes was significantly greater than in the cardiocytes of the right atrium exclusive of the auricle, however, there was no significant difference between the number of A-granules and B-granules in the three species. The diameter of each type of granule in the right auricular and atrial cardiocytes of the mouse and rat was significantly greater than in the Mongolian gerbil, and the diameter of the A-granules was significantly greater than the diameter of the B-granules in all three species.     

Composition and ultrastructure of elasmobranch granulocytes. III. Sharks (Lamniformes)

The peripheral blood granulocyte composition of five species of shark is given together with ultrastructural observations made on the epigonal organ and blood of Mustelus lenticulatus and spleen of Apristurus sp. Three granulocyte lineages occurred in Mustelus . Ultrastructurally, eosinophilic granulocytes contained granules that were very variable in size and contained parallel fibrillar arrays that were unidirectional in small granules, but which were often orientated in several directions in larger granules. This dense core material sometimes formed angular crystalloids.
Eosinophils had ovoid or irregular granules that were usually uniformly electron-dense, but some had an eccentric ovoid area of greater electron-density. Some eosinophils enter the blood where they are phagocytic, but others, in blood and epigonal organ, showed an unusual but characteristic process of disintegration, leaving a ragged cell full of cellular debris.
The third granulocyte type had features of mast cells and basophils of higher vertebrates and was tentatively identified as belonging to that lineage. The inter-relationships of these cells, and of them with granulocytes of other elasmobranchs, are discussed.     

Differences in Fine Structures between Normal and RNA-induced Drosophila Pole Cells

Fine structures were compared between normal pole cells and those induced in embryos that had been uv-irradiated and then injected with intact polar plasm or with poly(A)⁺RNA extracted from cleavage embryos. Nuclei in nomal pole cells were spherical. In contrast, those in the induced pole cells were deformed to variable extents depending on materials injected with. Polar granules were smaller in pole cells induced by injection of poly(A)⁺RNA than in normal pole cells. The size of polar granules in polar-plasm-induced pole cells was intermediate between those in poly(A)⁺RNA-induced and normal pole cells. Small polar granules were observed in posterior cells of embryos uv-irradiated, nevertheless those cells were columnar and with identical morphology to somatic cells. Nuclear bodies showed a similar tendency in size differences as observed in polar granules in three types of pole cells observed.     

Mast cell heterogeneity between two different species of Hoplias sp. (Characiformes: Erythrinidae): response to fixatives, anatomical distribution, histochemical contents and ultrastructural features

Mast cells from two erythrinid species: Hoplias malabaricus and Hoplias lacerdae, were studied in several tissues throughout the body using light and electron microscopy. Mast cells were found in all organs studied, but were especially abundant in the gastrointestinal tract, and were always in association with connective tissue. These cells showed different characteristics between the two species studied, like varied morphology, anatomical distribution, density, basophilic/eosinophilic staining and heparin content. In H. malabaricus, the tissues fixed with Helly's solution contained mast cells that were basophilic, metachromatic and had heparin in their cytoplasmic granules, while the tissues fixed with Karnovsky's solution contained eosinophilic and orthochromatic mast cells in which heparin was not detected. In H. lacerdae, the use of both fixatives resulted in mast cells that were eosinophilic, orthochromatic, with no identifiable heparin content. Exclusively in H. malabaricus oesophagus, the mast cells were additionally seen among the epithelial cells. The ultrastructural studies performed in hindgut fixed with Karnovsky's solution revealed that the cytoplasmic granules seen in H. lacerdae mast cells were better preserved than in H. malabaricus mast cells. The latter had electron-lucent granules that were often merged, forming channels. The present study demonstrated that mast cells from two species belonging to the same genus or even mast cells from the same species but under different fixatives can present heterogeneous characteristics, possibly due to their functional properties or to their sensitivity to fixatives.     

Staining of rabbit eosinophil and pseudoeosinophil leukocytes.

Air-dried rabbit blood was stained by HE, PAS and a modification of the Undritz II method. Eosin stained granules red in the eosinophil leukocytes. PAS was negative and the modified Undritz method failed to give consistent results. Cells with eosinophilic granules appeared in the corneal stroma 1 h after removing the corneal epithelium. They were stained red consistently by both eosin and the modified Undritz II method. Electron micrographs failed to demonstrate crystalloids in the granules. Because of the staining characteristics and the lack of crystalloids in their granules these cells were classified as pseudoeosinophil leukocytes. The electron micrographs showed some glycogen 12 h after denuding the cornea, however, glycogen was not well stained by PAS until 18 h after denuding.