CHAPTER 3 



CYTOCHEMISTRY OF 

 THE LYMPHOCYTES 



Phase Microscope Studies 



G. ADOLPH ACKERMAN 



It is apparent that we are entering a new phase of normal and pathologic 

 cellnlar morphology resulting from the rapid advances in the fields of 

 microscopy and histochemistry. It has become necessary for the pathologist, 

 hematologist, and hematologic investigator to be familiar with the wide 

 variety of new methods now available to him for aid in diagnosis of disease, 

 studying the process of cellular differentiation, determining the morphologic 

 and chemical alterations in cells in various diseases, and in determining the 

 effects of various drugs and therapeutic agents upon their structure, chem- 

 istry, and metabolism. 



PHASE MICROSCOPY 



The recent advent of the phase microscope has renewed interest in the 

 morphologic structure of the lymphocyte since it has become possible to 

 examine lymphocytes in the blood and lymphatic tissues in the living con- 

 dition unaltered by drying, fixation, or staining. It has proved possible to 

 recognize in the living cells studied in this manner all the structures and 

 structural detail described with the Romanovski stains and, in addition, to 

 visualize other cellular entities not observed by the Romanovski methods, 

 e.g., cytoplasmic organelles and inclusions. Cytoplasmic movements and cell 

 motility can be observed with tlte phase microscope, as can intracellular 

 alterations during the process of cell degeneration and death. Experience 

 has indicated that the resolution of the organelles present in the lymphocyte 

 as well as in other (ells of the blood and hemopoietic system can be increased 



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