Production of Macroglobulins in Vitro and a Study of Their Cellular Origin

Lymph nodes of three patients with macroglobulinemia of Waldenströmwere studied in tissue culture and shown to synthesize 19S -globulin in vitro.

Lymph node imprints, bone marrow, and buffy coat smears of the samepatients consisted almost entirely of lymphocytes. When these were stainedwith fluorescein-conjugated antiserum to macroglobulin, large and medium-sized lymphocytes and lymphoblasts rather than mature lymphocytes or plasmacells were shown to contain the protein.

It is suggested that 19S -globulin may also be synthesized by cells belonging to the lymphoid series under normal circumstances.

Submitted on December 12, 1961 Accepted on March 8, 1962     

Reticuloendothelial Clearance of Blood Thromboplastin by Rats

Data have been presented suggesting that blood thromboplastin givenintravenously to rats is cleared by the reticuloendothelial system. (1) Thereagent given into the jugular vein or aorta caused profound defibrination,whereas injection into the portal circulation caused a milder reaction. Thesedifferences were obtained irrespective of the source of phosphatide in thethromboplastin generation mixture. (2) Reticuloendothelial blockade reducedthe protective effect of portal administration. (3) Radioactive blood thromboplastin given intravenously was rapidly cleared from the blood, and showedan organ distribution resembling that of agents known to be removed byreticuloendothelial cells. (4) Injection of the blood thromboplastin during acarbon clearance caused depression of the carbon disappearance slope.

Submitted on August 29, 1960 Accepted on October 19, 1960     

Virus-like Particles in the Lymphocytes of a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were isolated and subjected to electron microscopy. Aggregatesof virus-like particles measuring 80 to 120 Å in diameter were observed asorganized structures in the cytoplasm of the cells. The true nature of theparticles remains to be established.

Submitted on July 27, 1962     

Electron Microscopic Study of Human Basophils

Electron microscope studies were carried out on human basophils obtainedfrom peripheral blood and thoracic duct lymph. Delineation of the cells inthick sections was facilitated by staining with Toluidine Blue, which impartedthe characteristic purple-red color to the granules. The cytoplasm containsmany of the organelles seen in other cells, including a small Golgi apparatus,centrioles, mitochondria, fibrils and microtubules. Ribosomes and rough ERare rarely encountered. Basophil granules are surrounded by a unit membraneand contain particles which are uniform in size within the same granule butwhich vary in size in different granules within the same cell. Some granulesreveal a homogeneous texture and/or "myelin" figures. The appearance of mostbasophil granules differs from the ultrastructure of human mast cell granulesreported to date. It is suggested that the difference in fine structure may reflect a difference in the chemical constituents of the granules.

Submitted on September 20, 1966 Accepted on January 9, 1967     

Brief Report: Studies on Subcellular Platelet Particles

The phospholipids of subcellular platelet particles are very similar to thoseof the intact platelet. However, they contain a higher proportion of long-chain,highly unsaturated fatty acids, which confers upon them physical characteristics suggesting a dynamic biological system.

Submitted on August 29, 1963 Accepted on September 25, 1963