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Ultrastructural characteristics of a cell line derived from a melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy
Author(s) -
Claman Lewis J.,
Stetson David,
Steinberg Barry,
Shuler Charles F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1991.tb00428.x
Subject(s) - melanosome , microfilament , ultrastructure , endoplasmic reticulum , biology , cytoplasm , vesicle , population , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , electron microscope , microtubule , cell , anatomy , cytoskeleton , membrane , melanin , medicine , optics , biochemistry , physics , environmental health
Thin section and freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy were used to examine and identify the cytoplasmic and membrane structures in a cell line derived from a melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI). The cultured cells had a uniform appearance after 70 population doublings characterized by long dendritic processes and evidence of melanin production. The cytoplasm contained numerous melanosomes in various stages of development, vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum, microfilaments and uncoated as well as coated vesicles. The membrane specializations included caveoli, coated pits, gap junctions, microfilaments, desmosome‐like structures and lamellipodia. The Ultrastructural appearance of the cultured MNTI cells was similar to features previously seen in electron micrographs of MNTI tumor specimens. However, correlated freeze‐fracture and thin section micrographs permitted further identification of structures previously described. The MNTI cell line represents one of the cell types of the tumor and provides an opportunity for further study of the pathogenesis of this rare tumor.