38 The Lymphocyte and Lymphocytic Tissue 



the reactive material in the nucleus of the lymphocyte is not chromatin but 

 the nuclear fluid or sap. 9 - 97 In normal lymphatic tissue lymphoblasts tend 

 to exhibit a greater amount of cytoplasmic protein-bound sulfhydryl groups 

 than the cytoplasm of the more mature small lymphocytes, 9 although other 

 investigators 20 - w ' have shown a gradual increase in sulfhydryl groups during 

 the maturation of the lymphocyte with the RSN technique. 



Preliminary studies 8, 9 employing the DDD method for protein-bound 

 sulfhydryl groups suggest that the lymphocytes in lymphosarcoma (Figs. 

 3-32, 3-33) and in lymphocytic (Fig. 3-31) and lymphoblastic leukemia 

 (Fig. 3-34) contain more thiol groups in their cytoplasm and nucleus than 

 normal lymphocytes. However, considerable variations in the amount of 

 reactive thiol groups have been noted in lymphosarcoma, 8 ' 9 with the lympho- 

 sarcoma cells from certain patients reacting very strongly in both the cyto- 

 plasm and nucleus (Fig. 3-33). When the RSN method 20 is employed, the 

 lymphocytes in lymphocytic leukemia stain lightly, although the prolympho- 

 cytes and lymphoblasts stain somewhat less intensely. Further studies con- 

 cerning the variations of sulfhydryls in the cellular elements in leukemia 

 and other diseases affecting the hemopoietic system should yield significant 

 results. 



Following x-radiation, there is a marked reduction in active thiol groups 

 in the lymphoid cells of the lymph nodes and spleen of the rat. 4 This reduc- 

 tion occurs within two to four hours after radiation and returns to normal 

 about the twelfth hour. These changes in sulfhydryls parallel the changes 

 in the Gomori alkaline phosphatase reaction, suggesting that these sub- 

 stances may play a significant role in lymphocyte metabolism and radio- 

 sensitivity. 4 



Carbohydrates 



Both glycogen (saliva-labile) and mucopolysaccharides (saliva-resistant) 

 granules can be demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the lymphocyte 1 ' 2 ' 4 ' 10 - 37> 

 63, 64, 67, to, 74, 85, 99, 114 anc i j ts progenitors. Although several methods have 

 been employed for the demonstration of these carbohydrates, 42 - G3 > 64 ' SG the 

 periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) method is the most sensitive and most widely em- 

 ployed. 42 ' 63, M PAS-positive granules are scattered throughout the cytoplasm 

 of the lymphocyte (Fig. 3-21) with greater numbers of these granules localiz- 

 ing in the cytoplasm in the region of the nuclear hof. These granules do not 

 appear to be related to morphologic structures seen in the living cell or 

 following staining with the Romanovski dyes. 9 The number of PAS-positive 

 granules tend to be slightly greater in the more immature lymphocytes 42 

 and the lymphoblasts. Most investigators have attributed the PAS-positive 

 granules to glycogen since they are saliva-labile provided alcholic fixative 



