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Permanganate fixation demonstrates the monoamine-containing granular vesicles in the SIF cells but not in the adrenal medulla or mast cells

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Summary

Three types of monoamine-storing cells were fixed with permanganates and analyzed ultrastructurally. The SIF cells contained the typical granulated vesicles characteristic of monoamines. On the other hand, both the catecholamine-storing cells in the adrenal medulla and the mast cells were devoid of a dense core in their monoamine vesicles. This is surprising, since permanganate is considered a reliable means of demonstrating monoamines at the fine structural level. The significance of this finding is discussed against the close relationship between SIF cells and cells of the adrenal medulla. Because permanganate as a fixative is widely used in monoamine fine structural cytochemistry, the present findings undoubtedly need further clarification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, USA

    Lasse Kanerva

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland

    Antti Hervonen

  3. Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 20, SF-00170, Helsinki 17, Finland

    Leena Rechardt

Authors
  1. Lasse Kanerva
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  2. Antti Hervonen
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  3. Leena Rechardt
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Kanerva, L., Hervonen, A. & Rechardt, L. Permanganate fixation demonstrates the monoamine-containing granular vesicles in the SIF cells but not in the adrenal medulla or mast cells. Histochemistry 52, 61–72 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495815

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495815

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