Summary
The authors report on the results of ultrastructural studies of two cases of Malacoplakia. The main part of the cell population was made up of histiocytes. Their cytoplasm was filled with unit membrane-lined vesicles containing lamellar structures (myeloïd bodies) revealed by light microscopy as granules stained by the A.P.S. reaction. Apatite crystals deposited upon these vesicles, leading to the development of Michaelis-Gutman bodies. In one of the two cases macrophages also contained erythrocytes and bacteria at various stages of phagocytosis; they may have been responsible for the accumulation of the lamellar structures in the cytoplasm of cells. These facts may be related to the high incidence of haemorrhage. An infectious etiology for this disease seems probable, this hypothesis being provided by several other authors.
Résumé
Les auteurs rapportent les données de l'étude ultrastructurale de deux observations de Malakoplakie. L'infiltrat cellulaire est constitué essentiellement d'histiocytes dont le cytoplasme est rempli d'inclusions `a contenu lamellaire (figures myéliniques) correspondant aux granules glycolipidiques PAS-positifs vus au microscope optique. Ces inclusions représentent le substrat du processus de calcification intra-cellulaire aboutissant aux corps de Michaelis-Gutmann. Dans l'une des observations existaient en outre des images d'érythrophagocytose et, dans certaines cellules, des bactéries en voie de digestion. Ces phénomènes sont peut-être à l'origine de la surcharge cytoplasmique en matériel membranaire, et sont à rapprocher, d'une part du contexte volontiers hémorragique accompagnant les lésions de malakoplakie, d'autre part d'une origine bactérienne possible de cette maladie, bien que les données de la littérature incitent à une grande prudence, du fait de contradictions fréquentes.
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Nous remercions, pour leur assistance technique, Mlles M. Daudet (C.N.R.S.), D. Arriat et Mr Wolfelsperger. Ce travail a pu être réalisé grâce à l'aide du C.N.R.S. et de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale.
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Le Charpentier, Y., Le Charpentier, M., Franc, B. et al. Données fournies par l'étude ultrastructurale de deux observations de Malakoplakie. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 359, 157–170 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548262
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548262