ISSN:
1432-2307
Keywords:
Key words Autonomic nerve tumour
;
Small intestine
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Quick-freezing
;
Deep-etching
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract A case of gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumour with skeinoid fibres (SFs) of the jejunum in a 79-year-old Japanese man, was examined by the quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method. The tumour consisted of spindle cells with immunohistochemical reactions for vimentin, NSE and CD34. Electron microscopically, features of the neural cells of the myenteric plexus were observed. The QF-DE method demonstrated intercellular meshwork structures, consisting of thin filaments (7–15 nm), with granular deposits. Fully developed parts of the deposits formed nodular aggregates composed of irregularly surfaced thick fibrils (30–48 nm) with a tendency to linear arrangement (SFs). We detected many interconnecting thin filaments (ICTFs) between the SFs, which were pre-existing components in the meshwork, avoiding the granular deposits. The focal thickening formed by the connection between SFs and ICTFs revealed a periodicity typical of SFs (33–45 nm). We conclude that SFs are formed by decoration of the granular deposits along pre-existing intercellular meshwork structures.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004280050340
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