Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Human leukocytes as viewed by stereo high-voltage electronmicroscopy.

K B Pryzwansky1

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27514.

Blood Cells
|January 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

This study used stereo high-voltage electron microscopy to examine the structure of leukocytes during different activities. Researchers found that the microtrabecular lattice, a network of fine strands, influences granule shape and movement in neutrophils. During cell movement, the lattice expands and contracts, affecting granule pleomorphism. Elongated neutrophils showed two centrioles and microtubule asters, suggesting a complex cytoskeletal arrangement. Phagocytosis caused organelles to cluster around vacuoles, with the lattice likely aiding phagolysosome fusion. The study highlights how cell motility and lattice interactions shape leukocyte function.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein is regulated by cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase during neutrophil spreading.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)·2001
Same author

Chemotactic peptide-induced changes of intermediate filament organization in neutrophils during granule secretion: role of cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

Molecular biology of the cell·1998
Same author

Compartmentalization of PDE-4 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase in neutrophils and macrophages during phagocytosis.

Cell biochemistry and biophysics·1998
Same author

Control of glucan-induced systemic granulomatosis by cyclosporine A.

Inflammation·1995
Same author

Localization of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in human mononuclear phagocytes.

Journal of leukocyte biology·1995
Same author

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase is targeted to intermediate filaments and phosphorylates vimentin in A23187-stimulated human neutrophils.

Blood·1995

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Immunology
  • Electron microscopy techniques

Background:

The structure of leukocyte cytoplasts remains poorly understood under dynamic cellular conditions. While transmission electron microscopy has revealed organelle arrangements, it lacks the resolution to capture three-dimensional interactions. Researchers have long sought to visualize how cytoskeletal components and organelles adapt during cell movement and phagocytosis. Neutrophils, in particular, exhibit shape changes that may influence granule morphology. Prior studies have not fully resolved how the microtrabecular lattice interacts with other cytoskeletal elements. This gap motivated the use of stereo high-voltage electron microscopy to examine unstimulated, motile, and phagocytosing leukocytes. The goal was to clarify how cytoplasmic organization shifts with cell activity. This approach allows for a more detailed assessment of cytoplasmic architecture in whole-mount preparations.

Purpose Of The Study:

This study aimed to explore the cytoplasmic organization of leukocytes using stereo high-voltage electron microscopy. The researchers focused on how the microtrabecular lattice interacts with other cytoskeletal components during different cellular states. They examined unstimulated, motile, and phagocytosing cells to understand structural changes. Neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes were compared to assess differences in lattice complexity. The study also aimed to determine how granule shape varies with cell movement. Researchers wanted to clarify whether granule pleomorphism is a result of cell motility. They hypothesized that the microtrabecular lattice influences granule translocation and shape. This investigation could help explain why standard transmission EM shows diverse granule forms.

Keywords:
leukocyte cytoplastcell motilityphagocytosiscytoskeletal organization

Frequently Asked Questions

The microtrabecular lattice is a network of fine strands that influences granule shape during cell movement.

Phagocytosis causes organelles to cluster around phagocytic vacuoles, bordered by hyaloplasm.

Elongated neutrophils show centriole separation, with each surrounded by a microtubule aster.

The lattice may compartmentalize granules around vacuoles, aiding efficient phagolysosome fusion.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

Stereo high-voltage electron microscopy was used to image whole-mount leukocyte preparations. The method allowed for three-dimensional visualization of cytoplasmic structures. Researchers observed unstimulated, motile, and phagocytosing cells to capture dynamic changes. Detergent extraction was performed to examine the cytoskeleton in elongated neutrophils. The microtrabecular lattice was identified as a network of fine strands. Comparisons were made between neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Researchers noted how the lattice expands and contracts during cell movement. They also analyzed granule shape changes in relation to lattice deformation.

Main Results:

The microtrabecular lattice was found to be more complex in neutrophils than in eosinophils or monocytes. Granule shape varied significantly in elongated neutrophils with two leading lamellipodia. The lattice appeared to influence granule pleomorphism during cell movement. Detergent extraction revealed two separated centrioles in elongated cells. Each centriole was surrounded by an aster of microtubules. A thin cytoplasmic layer connected the two cell bodies. Microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules formed a complex network. Phagocytosis caused organelles to cluster around phagocytic vacuoles.

Conclusions:

The microtrabecular lattice appears to regulate granule shape and translocation in neutrophils. Cell motility influences granule pleomorphism, which may explain variations seen in standard EM. Phagocytosis reorganizes the cytoplast, concentrating organelles near vacuoles. The lattice may facilitate efficient phagolysosome fusion by compartmentalizing granules. Neutrophil elongation correlates with centriole separation and microtubule aster formation. The interaction between the lattice and cytoskeletal elements is likely crucial for cell function. These findings suggest that the lattice plays a structural role in dynamic cellular processes. The study highlights the importance of three-dimensional imaging in understanding leukocyte behavior.

Cell movement causes lattice deformation, which may alter granule shape and pleomorphism.

The study suggests that granule pleomorphism seen in standard EM may result from cell motility.