Altered surface morphology of Concanavalin A transformed thymic lymphocytes as seen by scanning electron microscopy

The present study records the surface architecture of normal and Concanavalin A transformed thymic lymphocytes as seen under the scanning electron microscope, employing different modes of cell preparation and fixation. Murine thymic lymphocytes have a relatively uniform surface architecture and display few microvilli, irrespective of the mode of fixation used in their preparation for SEM. When cells are incubated for 72 hours no gross changes in surface morphology are noted. After incubation with Concanavalin A for 72 hours the transformed cells display multiple microvilli and are easily distinguished from their relatively smooth normal non-transformed counterparts. The results are reviewed in the light of current knowledge on the surface architecture of lymphocytes and the factors influencing lymphocyte surface topography are discussed.