Ultrastructural Studies on Bovine Horn Cancer

The ultrastructure of bovine horn cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) of Indian cattle is described. The tumour was composed of pleomorphic epithelial cells. The nuclei were enlarged with membrane invaginations and peripherally distributed heterochromatin and pleomorphic nucleoli. The cytoplasm contained bundles of tono-filaments and keratohyalin granules. In addition a majority of the cells revealed marked degenerative changes of the cytoplasmic orga-nellae and intracellular oedema. Desmosomes were rarely observed. Budding of virus-like particles from the cell membrane of a few cells was demonstrated.