Ultrastructural studies on the evolution of amyloidosis in the cyclic hematopoietic (CH) dog

Electron microscopy studies were made on tissues of cyclic hematopoietic (CH) dogs of various ages presenting a high incidence of spontaneous amyloidosis. The distribution and morphologic characteristics of amyloidosis in this animal model closely correspond to the secondary and familial forms of the disease in humans. Plasma cells and, particularly, macrophages presented marked changes during the evolution of amyloid deposition. Residual bodies in the macrophages contained abundant cell debris, a result of both endocytic and autophagocytic activities. Intracellular amyloid fibrils were not observed by conventional electron microscopy. A few reticular cells contained intracytoplasmic fibrils which were morphologically different from amyloid. There was no correlation between the amount of intracellular fibrils and the size of the extracellular amyloid deposits. On the contrary, a temporal association between the magnitude of the amyloid deposits and cytoplasmic changes in the macrophages at sequential stages of the evolution of the disease was evident. It is suggested that the hematopoietic defect in the CH dog could play an important role in the production of amyloidosis, making this animal an excellent experimental model for studies of that disease.