The human neutrophilic promyelocyte

Summary The developmental changes in the neutrophilic promyelocytes from normal human bone marrow have been analyzed by means of phase contrast and electron microscopy. This developmental phase is characterized by the elaboration of primary (azurophillysosomal) granules and the entire intracellular machinery is directed principally toward this goal. The promyelocyte stage has been subdivided into three arbitrary stages based upon morphological, histochemical and functional characteristics which relate to the onset, active production and cessation of primary granulogenesis.Supported by Grant No. AM-HE-12084-12 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Arthur Sagone who performed the bone marrow aspirations and to Marjorie Griffith, Anita Topson and Barbara Jordan for their technical assistance.     

Surface differentiation of hemopoietic cells demonstrated ultrastructurally with cationized ferritin

The ultrastructural cationized ferritin (CF) technique was employed as a probe of the surface binding characteristics of the various cell types present in normal human bone marrow. The number of CF particles per micron length of cell surface were counted and data subjected to statistical analysis. All cells of the bone marrow exhibited CF reactivity. The extent of labeling was cell specific and could be related to the stage of maturation of the cells in a given lineage. In the neutrophilic series, myeloblasts showed moderate labeling while promyelocytes and myelocytes revealed only minimal binding; CF binding increased sequentially in metamyelocytes, band and segmented neutrophils. Eosinophils and eosinophilic myelocytes showed similar membrane differnetiation patterns while basophils exhibited stronger CF labeling that other granulocytic cells. Lymphocytes were strongly reactive while monocytes and their precursors were moderately labeled with CF. Surface reactivity of developing nucleated erythrocytic cells was similar to that of the lymphocytes. Surface labeling from the proerythroblasts to early normoblasts stage was identical, CF binding increased in the late normoblasts stage and then decreased in the reticulocyte and mature erythrocyte stages. The extent of surface CF reactivity of the marrow cells was markedly different from that obtained with Thorotrast and colloidal iron. Thorotrast and colloidal iron stained the surface of all marrow cell intensely but failed to yield distinctive surface labeling patterns for the differing cell population in bone marrow.     

An extension of the theory of resonances of biological cells: II. Cross-section in a plane wave

The scattering and absorption cross-sections for the resonant modes of biological cells in plane waves are computed. These are both so many orders of magnitude smaller than the physical cross-section that the scattering or absorption by a suspension of cells in a plane wave should be negligible.     

An extension of the theory of resonances of biological cells: I. Effects of viscosity and compressibility

The effect of the compressibility and the viscosity of the medium on the resonance of biological cells is discussed mathematically. The resonant frequency is only slightly altered, but the motion is highly damped.     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE BURSA OF FABRICIUS OF THE EMBRYONIC CHICK WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE LYMPHO-EPITHELIAL NODULES

Electron microscopic studies of the bursa of Fabricius during the 15th and 16th day of embryonic development in the chick have shown the following findings in the submicroscopic structure of the cellular elements of the lympho-epithelial follicles. In the medulla, basal endodermal epithelial cells undergo mitosis and differentiation into lymphoblasts. During this transformation, there is a reduction in the amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, an increase in the number or ribosomes, and frequently an enlargement of the Golgi complex. As lymphoblasts differentiate into medium lymphocytes there is a loss of endoplasmic reticulum, a reduction in the number of ribosomes and in the size of the Golgi complex, as well as a decrease in the number and size of mitochondria and in the size of the cell and nucleus. Cytoplasmic processes of reticular-epithelial cells extend between proliferating lymphocytic cells. Desmosomes connect stellate reticular-epithelial and basal epithelial cells but are not present in lymphocytic cells. Nuclear blebbing and vesiculation are frequently observed in the various cell forms of the developing lympho-epithelial nodules. Although lymphocytes and lymphocytopoietic activities in the cortex are sparse during this stage of embryonic development of the bursa, transitional forms between mesenchymal cells and lymphoblasts have been encountered. In addition, lymphoblasts and/or undifferentiated epithelial cells occasionally may pass through the basement membrane from the medulla into the cortical region of the developing nodule. That lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius originate from both endodermal and mesodermal derivatives during embryonic development appears to be consistent with both light and electron microscopic observations.