Fine structure of IMR-90 cells in culture as examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. 1979

J E Johnson

Cells from the new strain IMR-90 were examined by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy at early, middle, and late population doubling levels. The cells are characteristically flattened and elongated and arranged in clusters from 1 to several cells thick. Long thin processes extend from the poles and sides of the cells. The number of blebs and microvilli on the cell surface varies. In later population doubling level (PDL) cultures, a larger number of cells have greater quantities of microvilli on their surface. It is suggested that the increased number of microvilli might represent an increased level of differentiation. By TEM the cells typically have elongated to oval shaped nuclei which are sometimes deeply invaginated. The cytoplasm contains a well developed Golgi region, elongated mitochondria, microtubules, filaments, a variety of vesicles, vacuoles and dense bodies and large amounts of RNA in the form of granular endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes. Cytoplasmic appearance, particularly the number of dense bodies, varies widely at all PDL. With increasing PDL, cells tend to have nuclei with more condensed chromatin, and a cytoplasm containing less mitochondria and granular endoplasmic reticulum and more dense bodies. Also at later PDL there is a higher frequency of cells containing long, thin dense mitochondria as well as bizarre shaped mitochondria. In older populations there are many cells in a state of filamentous degeneration. Cells with large numbbers of surface projections (microvilli) tend to be correlated with an osmiophilic cytoplasm containing many filaments and numerous dense bodies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008855 Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D008871 Microvilli Minute projections of cell membranes which greatly increase the surface area of the cell. Brush Border,Striated Border,Border, Brush,Border, Striated,Borders, Brush,Borders, Striated,Brush Borders,Microvillus,Striated Borders
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002460 Cell Line Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely. Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D005260 Female Females
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D005347 Fibroblasts Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules. Fibroblast
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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