Abstract
Omental milky spots are especially large and numerous in New Zealand Black (NZB) mice, which are known to develop spontaneous autoimmune diseases. We investigated omental milky spots in NZB mice by light and electron microscopy. The milky spots were composed of abundant lymphocytes/plasma cells with macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, megakaryocytes, and various stromal cells. In addition, clustered neutrophils in various maturation stages with occasional mitotic figures were frequently present in the milky spots: apparent neutrophilic myelopoiesis was present. The presence of megakaryocytes was sporadic. Considering the giant size of megakaryocytes, their direct migration into the milky spots from the bone marrow or spleen seems improbable. Thus, the presence of megakaryocytes was interpreted as probable megakaryopoiesis. Erythroblasts were not contained in the milky spots. These findings seem to indicate that the milky spots in NZB mice represent a special type of lymphoid tissue with active neutrophilic myelopoiesis and probable megakaryopoiesis. Reticulum cells in the milky spots in NZB mice had well-developed dense bodies consisting of clustered parallel tubules that showed a hexagonal array. However, the biological significance of these cells remains unknown.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alanen A, Pira U, Lassila O, Roth J, Franklin RM (1985) Mott cells are plasma cells defective in immunoglobulin secretion. Eur J Immunol 15:235–242
Bartoszewicz W, Dux K (1968) Electron-microscopic examinations of omental milk spots of normal mice. Nowotwory 18:225–235
Beelen RHJ (1991) The greater omentum: physiology and immunological concepts. Neth J Surg 43:145–149
Beelen RHJ, Fluitsma DM, Hoefsmit ECM (1980a) The cellular composition of omentum milky spots and the ultrastructure of milky spot macrophages and reticulum cells. J Reticuloendothel Soc 28:585–599
Beelen RHJ, Fluitsma DM, Hoefsmit ECM (1980b) Peroxidatic activity of mononuclear phagocytes developing in omentum milky spots. J Reticuloendothel Soc 28:601–609
Bandt A, Schnorr B (1983) Blutgefäβversorgung des groβen Netzes von Schaf und Ziege. (The vascular supply of the greater. omentum in sheep and goat) Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 97 427–440
Cranshaw ML, Leak LV (1990) Milky spots of the omentum: a source of peritoneal cells in the normal and stimulated animal. Arch Histol Cytol 53 [Suppl]: 165–177
DeLellis RA, Sternberger LA, Mann RB, Banks PM, Nakane PK (1979) Immunoperoxidase technics in diagnostic pathology. Report of a workshop sponsored by the national cancer institute. Am J Clin Pathol 71:483–488
Dux K, Janik P, Szaniawska B (1977) Kinetics of proliferation, cell differentiation, and IgM secretion in the omental lymphoid organ of B10/Sn mice following intraperitoneal immunization with sheep erythrocytes. Cell Immunol 32:97–109
Dux K, Rouse RV, Kyewski B (1986) Composition of the lymphoid cell populations from omental milky spots during the immune response in C57BL/Ka mice. Eur J Immunol 16:1029–1032
East J, Sousa MAB de, Parrott DMV (1965) Immunopathology of New Zealand Black (NZB) mice. Transplantation 3:711–729
Felix MD (1961) Observations on the surface cells of the mouse omentum as studied with the phase-contrast and electron microscopes. J Natl Cancer Inst 27:713–745
Hamazaki Y (1925) Comparative studies on the milk-spots, “taches laiteuses” of various animals. Folia Anat Jpn 3:243–265
Helyer BJ, Howie JB (1963) Renal disease associated with positive lupus erythematosus tests in a cross-bred strain of mice. Nature 197:197
Hirai K, Takemori N, Onodera R, Watanabe S, Saito N, Namiki M (1992) Extramedullary hematopoietic ability of mouse omentum: electron microscopic observation. J Clin Electron Microsc 25:421–422
Hodel Ch (1970) Ultrastructural studies on the absorption of protein markers by the greater omentum. Eur Surg Res 2:435–449
Izui S, McConahey PJ, Dixon FJ (1978) Increased spontaneous polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes in mice with spontaneous autoimmune disease. J Immunol 121:2213–2219.
Koten JW, Otter W (1991) Are omental milky spots an intestinal thymus? Lancet 338:1189–1190
Maldonado JE, Brown AL Jr, Bayrd ED, Pease GL (1966) Cytoplasmic and intranuclear electron-dense bodies in the myeloma cell: light and electron microscopy observations. Arch Pathol Lab Med 81:484–500
Minoda M, Horiuchi A (1983) The function of thymic reticuloepithelial cells in New Zealand mice. Thymus 5:363–374
Mixter RL (1941) On macrophagal foci (“milky spots”) in the pleura of different mammals, including man. Am J Anat 69:159–186
Murata J (1955) Studies on macrophages in the peritoneal cavity. Report II. The origin of the macrophages in the peritoneal cavity. Int J Hematol 18:49–62
Phillips JA, Mehta K, Fernandez C, Raveché ES (1992) The NZB mouse as a model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer Res 52:437–443
Ranvier L (1874) Du développement et de l'accroissement des vaisseaux sanguins. Arch Phys Norm Pathol 6:429–446
Raveche ES, Laskin CA, Rubin C, Tjio JH, Steinberg AD (1983) Comparison of stem-cell recovery in autoimmune and normal strains. Cell Immunol 79:56–67
Recklinghausen F von (1863) Über Eiter-und Bindegewebskörperchen. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 28:157–197
Reininger L, Shibata T, Schurmans S, Merino R, Fossati L, Lacour M, Izui S (1990) Spontaneous production of anti-mouse red blood cell autoantibodies is independent of the polyclonal activation in NZB mice. Eur J Immunol 20:2405–2410
Renaut J (1907) Les cellules connectives rhagiocrines. Arch Anat Microsc 9:495–606
Seifert MF, Marks SC Jr (1985) The regulation of hemopoiesis in the spleen. Experientia 41:192–199
Shimotsuma M, Kawata M, Hagiwara A, Takahashi T (1989) Milky spots in the human greater omentum. Macroscopic and histological identification. Acta Anat (Basel) 136:211–216
Shimotsuma M, Takahashi T, Kawata M, Dux K (1991) Cellular subsets of the milky spots in the human greater omentum. Cell Tissue Res 264:599–601
Shultz LD, Coman DR, Lyons BL, Sidman CL, Taylor S (1987) Development of plasmacytoid cells with Russell bodies in autoimmune “viable motheaten” mice. Am J Pathol 127:38–50
Simer PH (1934) On the morphology of the omentum, with especial reference to its lymphatics. Am J Anat 54:203–228
Takemori, N (1979a) Morphological studies of the omental milk spots in the mouse: Light and electron microscopy. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 54:265–283
Takemori N (1979b) Milk spots on the parietal peritoneum over the pancreas in the mouse. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 54:379–385
Takemori N (1980) Histogenesis of the omental milk spot of the mouse. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 55:223–234
Takemori N, Ito T (1980) Uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in omental milk spot cells of the mouse: an electron microscope study. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 55:409–418
Takemori N, Ito T (1981) Response of omental milk spots to colloidal saccharated ferric oxide in the mouse: light and electron microscopic study. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 56:199–216
Tanaka H (1958) Comparative cytologic studies by means of an electron microscope on monocytes, subcutaneous histiocytes, reticulum cells in the lymph nodes and peritoneal macrophages. Annu Rep Inst Virus Res Kyoto Univ 1:87–149
Vries MJ de, Hijmans W (1967) Pathological changes of thymic epithelial cells and autoimmune disease in NZB, NZW and (NZB × NZW)F1 mice. Immunology 12:179–196
Webb RL (1931) Peritoneal reactions in the white rat, with especial reference to the mast cells. Am J Anat 49:283–334
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Takemori, N., Hirai, K., Onodera, R. et al. Light and electron microscopic study of omental milky spots in New Zealand Black mice, with special reference to the extramedullary hematopoiesis. Anat Embryol 189, 215–226 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239009
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239009