[Ultrastructural research on intimal cell of the ganglion--scanning and transmission electron microscopic study ]

The surface ultrastructure of the ganglion intimal cells was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in comparison with the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the sectioned samples. Thirty ganglia mainly obtained from the hand were used for this study and the whole inner surface of the ganglion was studied and compared in relation to the production of the ganglion fluid. From the surface structure observed by SEM, cellular configuration was divided into 4 groups: 1. Smooth surfaced (Sm) group. 2. Irregular typed (Ir) group. 3. Elongated (El) group. 4. Rough surfaced (Rs) group. SEM views at higher magnifications demonstrated granular protrusion of the vesicles, 0.2-0.3 mu in diameter, on the cellular surface of the Sm and Ir group. However, granular vesicles were seen on the surface of the El group, which probably are very young and similar to fibroblastic cells. In Rs group, craters, 0.04 mu in size, which can be pits after fluid secretion, were detected on the surface. By TEM surveys, ruthenium red (RR) positive substances were found in the vesicles of the intimal cells and also in the intercellular space at the inner to intermediate layers. Such granular vesicles mainly containing of mucopolysaccharide positive by RR staining can play the important role for the production of the ganglion fluid. Intimal cells of the ganglion were different in the cellular surface part to part and such difference can indicate the differentiation of cellular activity especially in the ganglion fluid synthesis. On the other hand, the RR positive substance was found in and around mesenchymal cells at the inner to intermediate layer. This can also confirm that these multi-functional mesenchymal cells have the action to produce the ganglion fluid.