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Ultrastructure and in vitro growth characteristics of a transplantable rat pheochromocytoma
Author(s) -
Delellis Ronald A.,
Merk Frederick B.,
Deckers Peter,
Warren Shields,
Balogh Karoly
Publication year - 1973
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(197307)32:1<227::aid-cncr2820320134>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - adrenal medulla , electron microscope , ultrastructure , pheochromocytoma , neuroblastoma , epinephrine , norepinephrine , cell type , in vitro , intracellular , granule (geology) , catecholamine , biophysics , chemistry , pathology , biology , cell , endocrinology , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , medicine , biochemistry , dopamine , genetics , paleontology , physics , optics
The transplantable pheochromocytoma in rats was characterized by high intracellular concentrations of primary catecholamines as indicated by the formaldehyde vapor‐induced fluorescence reaction. Ultrastructurally, two types of intracytoplasmic granules could be recognized. The first type (type 1), believed to contain norepinephrine, measured up to 0.3 μ in diameter and was composed of an electron‐dense core which was separated from the surrounding membrane by an irregular, wide electron‐lucent space. The second type of granule (type 2), believed to contain epinephrine, measured up to 0.2 in diameter and was composed of a less electron‐dense core which was separated from the surrounding membrane by a narrow regular electron‐lucent space. Both norepinephrine‐ and epinephrine‐type granules were present within the same cell in contrast to the normal rat adrenal medulla which contains these catecholamines in two distinct cell populations. When grown in vitro, the tumor cells were characterized by elongate branching processes and resembled the neuronal type cells which have been cultured from neuroblastomas and sympathetic ganglia.