Ultrastructure of canine, feline, and bovine mast cell neoplasms

Biopsy specimens were collected from skin or spleen from 8 dogs, 7 cats, and 1 cow with mast cell neoplasms. Following histopathologic grading, the neoplasms were examined by transmission electron microscopy with the intention of reviewing their fine structure and recording new findings. For 2 feline specimens, short-term cell cultures were established, and adherent cells were fixed in situ and examined with the electron microscope. In addition to the usual array of mast cell organelles, including Golgi apparatus, secretory granules, mitochondria, vesicles, tubules, microfilaments, and ribosomes, important findings included coarse interdigitation of cytoplasmic projections between adjacent mast cells; intracytoplasmic parallel stacks of 10 nm diameter filaments as well as parallel arrays of coarse, 120 to 150 nm diameter tubules; the appearance of coated vesicles and caveolae on cell surfaces; the appearance of endocytosed erythrocytes; and the formation of giant secretory granules.