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Histology and ultrastructure of carotid body paragangliomas. Comparison with the normal gland
Author(s) -
Grimley Philip M.,
Glenner George G.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(196709)20:9<1473::aid-cncr2820200914>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - carotid body , ultrastructure , pathology , histology , gastric chief cell , golgi apparatus , paraganglioma , perivascular space , medicine , anatomy , free nerve ending , neurosecretion , biology , carotid arteries , cell , endocrinology , genetics , stomach , gastric mucosa
Several surgically extirpated human carotid bodies and three paragangliomas of the carotid body region were compared by means of light and electron microscopy. Chief cells, both normal and neoplastic, are generously endowed with “dense‐cored” cytoplasmic granules of the catecholamine type. The granules appear to develop in the Golgi region. In two of the tumors, an increased level of norepinephrine was detected by fluorimetric assay. Sustentacular (Schwannlike) cells are a constant parenchymal element in the normal glands and serve to convey unmyelinated nerve fibers into direct synapse with chief cells. All of the tumors lacked nerve endings, but sustentacular forms persisted as a prominent element in two cases. Evidence of neurosecretion in paragangliomas, despite lack of chromaffinity, indicates that the dichromate reaction is an inadequate substitute for biochemical and ultrastructural classification of neuroendocrine cells. The functional significance of secretion granules in normal chief cells remains to be elucidated.