Cytochemistry oj the Lymphocytes 41 



lymphoid cells in lymph nodes from patients with chronic lymphatic leu- 

 kemia and lymphosarcoma and those in normal lymph nodes. 1 In blood 

 films sudanophilic granules have been demonstrated in the lymphoid cells 

 of chronic lymphocytic leukemia," "•" lymphosarcoma, 5 ' and acute lympho- 

 blastic leukemia. 17 



Masked or bound lipids have been demonstrated in both the cytoplasm 

 and nucleus of the lymphocytes (Fig. 3-22) in fixed blood films after ex- 

 posure to organic acid and subsequent staining with Sudan black. 3 Follow- 

 ing this procedure, 3 numerous, fine, blue-black granules can be readily seen 

 in the cytoplasm of the lymphocyte, and the nucleus becomes sudanophilic 

 but stains a brown color (Fig. 3-22) . It is questionable, however, whether 

 this nuclear sudanophilia is due to nuclear bound lipid. Following the Baker 

 acid hematin method for phospholipids, the only lymphoid cells observed to 

 contain phospholipids are the lymphoblasts in which they are limited to the 

 mitochondria. 17 



Plasmalogen can be demonstrated in very small amounts in the lymphoid 

 cells of the blood - 13, 71n and lymphatic tissues 2 ' 13 following the plasmal re- 

 action. A small number of tiny, pale, staining granules are scattered in the 

 cytoplasm but tend to localize near the cytocentrum and mitochondria. 

 Cholesterol and cholesterol esters cannot be demonstrated histochemically 

 in the lymphocytes or their precursors. 



Present methods for the demonstration of lipids appear of little practical 

 value in the study of lymphocytes in health and disease primarily because 

 the histochemical methods for lipoproteins and phospholipids are as yet 

 not adequate. 



Enzymes 



Alkaline Phosphatase. The lymphocytes of the blood exhibit a negative 

 reaction for alkaline phosphatase following both the calcium phosphate 1 ' 1 

 t3, 82, 95, 104 anc j azo dye 51, 81 - in methods, while the lymphoid cells of 

 lymphatic tissue exhibit a variable but weak reaction. 21 2S ;:i i:i - 61 > 96 > 104 n:; 



from different patients can be seen in comparing Figs. 3-32 and 3-33. Sulfhydryls are 

 localized in the cytoplasm and nuclear sap while the chromatin and nuclear membrane 

 are essentially unstained. The large vacuole seen in the cytoplasm of the lowest of the 

 three lymphosarcoma cells represents a glycogen deposit. 



Fig. 3-34. Two lymphoblasts from acute lymphoblasic leukemia stained for sulfhydryl 

 groups by the ODD method. Considerable amounts of sulfhydryls arc demonstrable in the 

 cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of these cells. 



Fig. 3-35. Lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia stained for nonspecific 

 esterase (indoxyl acetate substrate). Indigo crystals localize in the cytoplasm of the lour 

 lymphoid cells. 



Fig. 3-36. Lymphosarcoma cells stained for nonspecific dehydrogenase, using nitro BT 

 as the substrate. Dehydrogenase is localized in the mitochondria. 



