Summary
The reported work is the first direct ultrastructural comparison of resident peritoneal macrophages from germ-free and conventional animals. Three groups of mice were studied: germ-free (GF), conventionally-reared under isolation conditions (IC), and conventionally-reared in an open environment (OC). The macrophages from the three groups of animals are closely similar morphologically. Particularly noteworthy are the electron-dense, lysosome-like granules which are numerous in the macrophages of germfree mice and which provide a structural foundation for the presumed microbicidal capability of the phagocytes.
Morphometric estimates showed that the “average macrophage” from GF mice is smaller and possesses a smaller, rounder nucleus, a smaller volume fraction of mitochondria and more lysosome-like granules per unit of cytoplasmic volume than the “average macrophage” from conventional mice. Moreover, granules and mitochondria are smaller, on average, in the GF phagocytes than in macrophages from conventional mice. The results suggest that peritoneal macrophages from the germ-free mouse represent, more truly than those from the conventional mouse, the nature of the fully differentiated but as yet unstimulated mononuclear phagocyte.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aherne, W.: Methods of counting discrete tissue components in microscopical sections. J. roy. microsc. Soc. 87, 493–508 (1967)
Allison, A.C.: Lysosomes. In: Oxford biology readers (ed. by Head, J.J.). London: Oxford University Press 1974
Brederoo, P., Daems, W.Th.: Cell coat, worm-like structures and labyrinths in guinea pig resident and exudate peritoneal macrophages, as demonstrated by an abbreviated fixation procedure for electron microscopy. Z. Zellforsch. 126, 135–156 (1972)
Burri, P.H., Giger, H., Gnägi, H.R., Weibel, E.R.: Application of stereological methods to cytophysiologic experiments on polarized cells. In: Electron microscopy, Vol. 1 (ed. by Bocciarelli, D.S.), IV European Conference, Rome, p. 593, 1968
Carr, I.: The fine structure of cells of the mouse peritoneum. Z. Zellforsch. 80, 534–555 (1967)
Carr, I.: Introduction: The free macrophages. In: The Macrophage. A Review of ultrastructure and function, pp. 1–19. London-New York: Academic Press 1973
Hally, A.D.: A counting method for measuring the volumes of tissue components in microscopical sections. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 105, 503–517 (1964)
Heise, E.R., Myrvik, Q.N.: Levels of lysosomal hydrolases in alveolar and peritoneal macrophages from conventional and germ-free rats. Fed. Proc. 25, 439 (1966)
Leake, E.S., Heise, E.R.: Comparative cytology of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages from germ-free rats. In: The reticuloendothelial system and atherosclerosis (ed. by Diluzio, N.R., Paoletti, R.), pp. 137–146. New York: Plenum Press 1967
Mayhew, T.M., Cruz, L.M.: Caveat on the use of the Delesse principle of areal analysis for estimating component volume densities. J. Microsc. 102, 195–207 (1974)
Mayhew, T.M., Williams, M.A.: A comparison of two sampling procedures for stereological analysis of cell pellets. J. Microsc. 94, 195–204 (1971)
Mayhew, T.M., Williams, M A.: A quantitative morphological analysis of macrophage stimulation. I. A study of subcellular compartments and of the cell surface. Z. Zellforsch. 147, 567–588 (1974 a)
Mayhew, T.M., Williams, M.A.: A quantitative morphological analysis of macrophage stimulation. II. Changes in granule number, size and size distributions. Cell Tiss. Res. 150, 529–543 (1974 b)
Novikoff, A.B., Holtzman, E.: Cells and organelles. London-New York-Sydney-Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. 1970
Penttila, A., Kalimo, H., Trump, B.F.: Influence of glutaraldehyde and/or osmium tetroxide on cell volume, ion content, mechanical stability and membrane permeability of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. J. Cell Biol. 63, 197–214 (1974)
Perkins, E.H., Nettesheim, T., Morita, T., Walburg, H.E., Jr.: The engulfing potential of peritoneal phagocytes of conventional and germfree mice. In: The Reticuloendothelial system and atherosclerosis (ed. by Diluzio, N.R., Paoletti, R.), pp. 175–187. New York: Plenum Press 1967
Pollard, M.: Germinal centers in germfree animals. In: Germinal centers in immune responses (ed. by Cottier, H., Odarchenko, N., Schindler, R., Congdon, C.C.), pp. 343–346. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967
Sokal, R.R., Rohlf, F.J.: Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Co. 1969
Stollerman, G.H., Ekstedt, R.D., Cohen, I.: Natural resistance of germfree mice and colostrum-deprived piglets to Group A Streptococci. J. Immunol. 95, 131–140 (1965)
Stollerman, G.H., Ekstedt, R.D., Friedenburg, R., Cohen, I.: Natural opsonins to Group A Streptococci and to Staphylococci in the sera of germ-free mice and colostrum-deprived piglets. J. clin. Invest. 42, 985 (1963)
Underwood, E.E.: Particle and grain characteristics. In: Quantitative stereology, pp. 80–108. Reading (Massachusetts) Menlo Park (California)London-Don Mills (Ontario): Addison-Wesley 1970
Weibel, E.R.: Stereological principles for morphometry in electron microscopic cytology. Int. Rev. Cytol. 26, 235–302 (1969)
Weibel, E.R., Gnägi, H.R.: Improvements in efficiency of stereologic methods in electron microscopic cytology. In: Electron microscopy, Vol. 1 (ed. by Bocciarelli, D.S.). IV European Conference, Rome, p. 601, 1968
Weibel, E.R., Stauble, W., Gnägi, H.R., Hess, F.A.: Correlated morphometric and biochemical studies on the liver cell. I. Morphometric model, stereologic methods and normal morphometric data for rat liver. J. Cell Biol. 42, 68–91 (1969)
Williams, M.A., Mayhew, T.M.: Quantitative microscopical studies of the mouse peritoneal macrophage following stimulation in vivo. Z. Zellforsch. 140, 187–202 (1973)
Woodward, B.: The use of the germfree mouse in the study of macrophage stimulation in vivo. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 259, 3–4P (1976)
Woodward, W.D.H.: Ultrastructural studies on macrophages from germfree mice. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Human Biology and Anatomy, University of Sheffield, England, 1976 b
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a scholarship received from the Association of Commonwealth Universities. I am grateful to Professor R. Barer for his helpful criticism of this manuscript. I also thank Dr.G.H. Cope and Dr. T.M. Mayhew for much thoughtful consideration given to this study and Mr. O. Illman, Animal House Curator, for his aid. The technical assistance of Mr. G.W. Peace, Mrs. M. Hollingworth and Mr. M. Fenner is gratefully acknowledged
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woodward, B. A stereological ultrastructural study of peritoneal macrophages from germ-free and conventionally-reared mice. Cell Tissue Res. 192, 157–166 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231030
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231030