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Electron-microscopical and microphotometric studies on the breakdown of erythrocytes by macrophages

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Summary

A method is described to study cell parts with both the electron microscope and a microspectrophotometer. Concerning the breakdown of erythrocytes by macrophages in subcutaneous connective tissue of the rat, the following was established.

  1. 1.

    Differences in the electron densities of erythrocytes in the process of being digested by macrophages, appear to correlate quite well with the presence of hemoglobin in these engulfed erythrocytes two days after the injection of blood.

  2. 2.

    During the transformation of the hemoglobin in the erythrocytes into hemosiderin granules, a stage with fine granules occurs on the fourth day after the injection of the blood cells; these granules probably contain small amounts of hemosiderin.

  3. 3.

    Large, typical hemosiderin granules are observed on the sixth day. Although all of these granules show the same absorption spectrum, they differ widely ultrastructurally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Histologioal Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Antonius F. W. Morselt, Petrus H. Cambier & Jan James

  2. Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

    Petrus H. Cambier

Authors
  1. Antonius F. W. Morselt
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  2. Petrus H. Cambier
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  3. Jan James
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Morselt, A.F.W., Cambier, P.H. & James, J. Electron-microscopical and microphotometric studies on the breakdown of erythrocytes by macrophages. Histochemie 37, 161–168 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305587

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305587

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