[Light and electron microscopy studies of actinomycosis of the lacrimal duct]

For the first time we present electron-microscopic results of an actinomycosis of the lacrimal canaliculus. The interior of the actinomycotic conglomerate showed no evidence of a cellular defence reaction but in the loosly woven outer network of hyphae we observed a massive granulocytic reaction. Also, after phagocytosis the structure of the actinomycotic micro-organisms within the granulocytes is not significantly damaged. Within the tissue of the lacrimal canaliculus adjacent to the actinomycotic conglomerate we observed an increased number of plasmacells but no pathogenic organisms.