46 The Lymphocyte and Lymphocytic Tissue 



blood 90 and lymphatic tissue 55 of man following the nadi reaction for cyto- 

 chrome oxidase. These granules tend to localize on the mitochondria of the 

 lymphocyte, indicating the presence of enzymatic activity in these struc- 

 tures. 55, 90 No quantitative differences in the G. nadi reaction were apparent 

 between normal lymphocytes and those from patients with leukemia, lym- 

 phosarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, or tuberculous lymphadenitis. 55 



The specificity of the M. nadi method for cytochrome oxidase has been 

 questioned and possibly may represent a fatty peroxide rather than an oxi- 

 dative enzyme. The M. nadi indophenol reaction when applied to the lym- 

 phocyte has consistently been negative except in inflammatory exudates, s4, 85 

 in which cases the lymphocytes become very reactive and may exhibit up to 

 60 indophenol granules in their cytoplasm. This change in reactivity of the 

 lymphocyte during the process of inflammation is correlated with an increase 

 in sudanophilic and PAS-positive granules, peroxidase, and acid and alka- 

 line phosphatase activity in these cells. 85 



Additional Enzymes. Attempts to demonstrate peroxidase activity in 

 lymphocytes were consistently negative. 20 - 60 Phosphamidase has been local- 

 ized to the lymphoid tissue of the spleen 68 but could not be demonstrated in 

 normal and hyperplastic lymph nodes. 23 With prolonged incubation times, all 

 the cells of the spleen react positively for phosphamidase, and the mature 

 lymphocytes exhibit a greater activity than lymphoblasts. 68 Beta-galactosidase 

 has been localized to the lymphoid cords and follicles of the lymph nodes 

 and in the red pulp of the spleen. 87 Ascorbic acid has recently been dem- 

 onstrated in small amounts in lymphocytes present in normal peripheral 

 blood. 27 



Antibodies. By using the fluorescent antibody techniques, "antibodies" 

 have been demonstrated in small amounts in the lymphoid follicles of the 

 lymph nodes and spleen in contrast to large amounts of fluorescent tagged 

 antibodies observed in plasma cells. 00 These observations suggest that the 

 lymphocytes apparently do not play a significant role in antibody formation. 



SUMMARY 



During the past few years we have added considerable to our knowledge 

 concerning the chemical composition of the lymphocyte. It has become in- 

 creasingly apparent that histochemical observations must be correlated with 

 cellular morphology as seen in the living cell. Valid characterization and 

 analysis of the morphology and histochemical structure of the cellular ele- 

 ments in leukemia must be derived from untreated patients. Studies con- 

 cerning the effects of various therapeutic agents upon the chemistry of the 

 leukemic cells have been only fragmentary. Perhaps the most promising 

 area lor further histochemical observations is in the demonstration and 



