Summary
The structure of the crystalline inclusions found in Batrachoseps liver cells is described and it is shown that the most symmetric unit cell upon which the crystal lattice is built is a face-centered cube. Taking into consideration the physical properties of a face-centered cubic structure, an attempt is made to determine the nature of the macromolecules that comprise the crystal. It is concluded on the basis of available evidence that the macromolecules probably represent serum lipoproteins. The intracellular synthesis of the crystals and the possible functions they may subserve in the animal are discussed. A comparison is made between the crystals and granules in rat hepatocytes discussed by Bruni and Porter (1965).
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Research supported by grant RG-6729 from the Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.
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Hamilton, D.W., Fawcett, D.W. & Christensen, A.K. The liver of the slender salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus . Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 70, 347–363 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336502
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336502