Disappearance of medium-sized and large pyroninophilic lymphocytes, adsorbed on the surface of target cells, was shown to take place after the addition of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After incubation for 45 min in the presence of PHA no cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum could be found in the lymphocytes and the mitochondria were fewer in number. Cells labeled with thymidine-H
3 had practically completely disappeared. A population of small lymphocytes with smooth outlines and pale cytoplasm, poor in organelles, and with ribosomes scattered freely in them appeared. After incubation for 24–48 h they were transformed into blast cells, larger cells with a pale nucleus and pale cytoplasm, in which no cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum could be found.
Key Words phytohemagglutinin - immune lymphocytes - large pyroninophilic lymphocytes - target cells
Laboratory of Systemic Blood Diseases, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Oncology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Department of Electron Microscopy, N. E. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. M. Zhdanov.) Translated from Byulleten'' Éksperimental''noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 80, No. 9, pp. 107–111, September, 1975.