Summary
The cells of the peritoneum of the mouse have been examined with the electron microscope both by studying the gastro-splenic omentum and by washing the cells out of the peritoneal cavity. They comprise mesothelial cells, mast cells, lymphocytes and macrophages. The mesothelial cells were probably nearly all degenerate. The mast cells released granules which were phagocytosed by the other cells. The lymphocytes were either classical small lymphocytes, or rather larger cells similar to previously described immunoblasts. The macrophages varied considerably in size. Some were probably derived from the covering cells of the milk spots. They contained varying numbers of dense bodies, with the structure of lysosomes. A series of appearances was seen which suggested that these were synthesized in the granular endoplasmic reticulum. A gradation of structure was seen between lymphocytes and small macrophages.
The gastro-splenic omentum consisted of two layers of mesothelium, in places fenestrated. The milk spots which were scattered throughout this structure were covered by cells similar to macrophages, and had a core of lymphoid cells in which ran a small blood vessel. The most notable difference between the mesothelial cells and the macrophages was the presence of many small caveolae at the surface of the mesothelial cells, and of larger vacuoles and indentations at the surface of the macrophages.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abercrombie, M., and J. E. M. Heaysman: Social behaviour of cells in tissue culture. II. Monolayering of fibroblasts. Exp. Cell Res. 6, 293–306 (1954).
Achong, B. G., and M. A. Epstein: A method for preparing microsamples of suspended cells for light and electron microscopy. J. roy. micr. Soc. 84, 107–110 (1965).
Amsterdam, A., and M. Schramm: Rapid release of the zymogen granule protein by osmium tetroxide, and its retention during fixation by glutaraldehyde. J. Cell Biol. 29, 199–207 (1966).
Anderson, D. R.: Ultrastructure of normal and leukaemic cells in human peripheral blood. J. Ultrastruct. Res., Supp. 9 (1966).
Aronson, M., and A. Shahar: Formation of histiocytes by the omentum in vitro. Exp. Cell Res. 38, 133–143 (1965).
Bainton, D. F., and M. G. Farquar: Origin of granules in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J. Cell Biol. 28, 277–301 (1966).
Balner, H.: Identification of mouse peritoneal macrophages in mouse radiation chimaeras. Transplantation 1, 217 (1963).
Baradi, A. F., and J. Hope: Observations on the ultrastructure of rabbit mesothelium. Exp. Cell Res. 34, 33–34 (1964).
Bennett, B.: Isolation and cultivation in vitro of macrophages from various sources in the mouse. Amer. J. Path. 48, 165–181 (1966).
Bernhard, W., and N. Granboulan: Ultrastructure of immunologically competent cells. Ciba. Found. Symp. Cellular Aspects of Immunity, p. 92. London: Churchill 1960.
Bessis, M. C.: Ultrastructure of lymphoid and plasma cells in relation to globulin and antibody formation. Lab. Invest. 10, 1040–1067 (1961).
Brandes, D.: Observations on the apparent mode of formation of “pure” lysosomes. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 63–80 (1965).
Cappell, D. F.: The cellular reactions following mild irritation of the peritoneum in normal and vitally stained animals, with special reference to the origin and nature of the mononuclear cells. J. Path. Bact. 33, 429–452 (1929).
Carr, I.: The structure of mouse peritoneal cells before and after stimulation with glyceryl trioleate. J. Anat. (Lond.) 100, 427 (1966).
—: Lysosome synthesis in peritoneal macrophages. J. Anat. (Lond.) 101, 187 (1967a).
- The cellular basis of reticuloendothelial stimulation. J. Path. Bact. (in press) (1967b).
— and, M. A. Williams: Stimulation of peritoneal cells with lipid studied with electron microscopy and autoradiography. Proc. roy. Micr. Soc. 1, 105–106 (1966).
Casley-Smith, J. R.: Endothelial permeability. II. The passage of particles through the lymphatic endothelium of normal and injured ears. Brit. J. exp. Path. 46, 35–49 (1965).
Cohn, Z. A., and B. Benson: The differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes. Morphology, cytochemistry and biochemistry. J. exp. Med. 121, 153–168 (1965).
—, J. G. Hirsch, and M. E. Fedorko: The in vitro differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes. IV. The ultrastructure of macrophage differentiation in the peritoneal cavity and in culture. J. exp. Med. 123, 747–755 (1966).
Daems, W. Th.: Mouse liver lysosomes and storage. Thesis. University of Leiden 1962.
Dannenberg, A. M., M. S. Burstone, P. C. Walter and J. Kinsley: A histochemical study of phagocytic and enzymatic functions of rabbit mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells and alveolar macrophages. I. Survey and quantitation of enzymes and states of cellular activation. J. Cell Biol. 17, 465–486 (1963).
Dumont, A., and H. Sheldon: Changes in the fine structure of macrophages in experimentally produced tuberculous granulomas in hamsters. Lab. Invest. 14, 2034–2055 (1965).
Duve, C. de: The lysosome concept. In: Ciba Foundation Symposium on Lysosomes, ed. by de Reuck A. V. S., Cameron M. P., p. 1–31. London: Churchill 1963.
Epstein, M. A.: The fine structure of the cells in mouse sarcoma 37 ascitic fluids. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 567–576 (1957).
Essner, E.: An electron microscopic study of erythrophagocytosis. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 7, 329–333 (1960).
Felix, Marie D.: Observations on the surface cells of the mouse omentum as studied with the phase contrast and electron microscopes. J. nat. Cancer Inst. 27, 713–729 (1961).
Fernando, N. V. P., and H. Z. Movat: The fine structure of mast cells. Exp. Mol. Path. 2, 450–463 (1963).
Goodman, J. W.: On the origin of peritoneal fluid cells. Blood 23, 18–26 (1964).
Gordon, G. B., and D. W. King: Phagocytosis. Amer. J. Path. 37, 279–292 (1960).
Han, S. S.: The ultrastructure of the mesenteric lymph node of the rat. Amer. J. Anat. 109, 183–225 (1961).
Harris, T. N., K. Hummeler and S. Harris: Electron microscopic observations on antibody producing lymph node cells. J. exp. Med. 123, 161–171 (1966).
Hummeler, K., T. N. Harris, N. Tomassini, M. Hechtet, and M. B. Farber: Electron microscopic observations on antibody producing cells in lymph and blood. J. exp. Med. 124, 255–261 (1966).
Kajikawa, K.: Electron microscopic studies on Histiocytes. Proc. Jap. Soc. Reticuloendothel. Syst. 3, 107–122 (1963).
Karrer, H. E.: The ultrastructure of mouse lung: The alveolar macrophage. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 693–700 (1958).
—: Electron microscopic study of the phagocytosis process in lung. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 7, 357–366 (1960).
Maximov, A. A.: Special cytology (ed. E. V. Cowdry), vol. 2, p. 711–770. New York: Hoeber 1932.
Mims, C. A.: The peritoneal macrophages of mice. Brit. J. exp. Path. 45, 37–43 (1964).
Moe, R. E.: Fine structure of the reticulum and sinuses of lymph nodes. Amer. J. Anat. 112, 311–335 (1963).
—: Electron microscopic appearance of the parenchyma of lymph nodes. Amer. J. Anat. 114, 341–370 (1964).
Moe, H., J. Rostgaard, and O. Behnke: On the morphology and origin of virgin lysosomes in the intestinal epithelium of the rat. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 396–403 (1965).
Movat, H. Z., and N. V. P. Fernando: The fine structure of lymphoid tissue. Exp. Mol. Path. 3, 543–568 (1964).
Nachmas, V. T.: A note on the surface coat of the ameba Chaos chaos. Exp. Cell Res. 38, 128–132 (1965).
Novikoff, A. B.: Lysosomes and possible role in the reticuloendothelial system. Rôle du système réticuloendothelial dans l'imniunitée antibacterienne et antitumorale (ed. M. B. N. Halpern), pp. 67–84. Paris: C.N.R.S. 1963.
North, R. J.: The localization by electron microscopy of acid phosphatase activity in guineapig macrophages. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 16, 96–108 (1966).
—, and G. B. Mackaness: Electron microscopical observations on the peritoneal macrophages of mice immunised with Listeria monocytogenes. II. The structure of macrophages from immune mice, and early cytoplasmic response to the presence of ingested bacteria. Brit. J. exp. Path. 44, 608–611 (1963).
Oren, R., A. E. Farnham, K. Saito, E. Milofsky, and M. L. Karnovsky: Metabolic patterns in three types of phagocytizing cells. J. Cell Biol. 17, 487–502 (1965).
Palade, G. E.: The secretory process of the pancreatic exocrine cell in Electron microscopy in Anatomy (ed. J. D. Boyd, F. R. Johnson, and J. D. Lever). London: Arnold 1961.
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry theoretical and applied, p. 881–886. London: Churchill 1960.
Perkins, E. H., P. Nettesheim, T. Morita, and H. E. Walberg: The engulfing potential of peritoneal phagocytes from conventional and germ free mice. Proc. Symposium on R.E. System and Atherosclerosis: Reticulo-endothelial Society 1967 (in press).
Petris, S. de, G. Karlsbad, and B. Pernis: Filamentous structures in the cytoplasm of normal mononuclear macrophages. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 7, 39–55 (1962).
Ranvier, L.: Recherches sur la formation des mailles du grand épiploon. Arch. Physiol., 2nd. series 1, 421–428 (1870).
—: Du développement et de l'accroissment des vaisseaux sanguins. Arch. Physiol., 2nd series 1, 429–450 (1874).
Riley, J. F.: The mast cells. Edinburgh: Livingstone 1959.
- Histamine and heparin in mast cells — why both? Lancet 1962/II, 40–41.
Smith, D. E.: Electron microscopy of normal mast cells under various experimental conditions Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 103, 40–52 (1963).
Thiery, J. P.: Etude au microscope électronique de la maturation et de l'excrétion des granules des mastocytes. J. Microscopie 2, 549–556 (1963).
Volkman, A.: The origin and turnover of mononuclear cells in peritoneal exudates in rats. J. exp. Med. 124, 241–253 (1966).
Wiener, J., D. Spiro, and P. S. Russell: An electron microscopic study of the homograft reaction. Amer. J. Path. 44, 319–347 (1963).
Welsh, R. A., and J. C. Geer: Phagocytosis of mast cell granule by the eosinophil leukocyte in the rat. Amer. J. Path. 35, 103–111 (1959).
Yoffey, J. M., G. Hudson, and D. G. Osmond: The lymphocyte in guinea-pig bone marrow. J. Anat. (Lond.) 99, 841–860 (1965).
Zucker-Franklin, D.: The ultrastructure of cells in human thoracic duct lymph. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 9, 325–339 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Acknowledgements. I am grateful to Professor R. Barer for much advice and criticism, to Dr. G. A. Meek for guidance on electron microscopy, and to Miss M. Tune and Mr. M. Turton for photographic assistance.
This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council and by grants to the Department from the S.R.C., Nuffield Foundation and Unilever Limited.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carr, I. The fine structure of the cells of the mouse peritoneum. Z. Zellforsch. 80, 534–555 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330721
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330721