Summary
Microscopic examination of involuting bovine mammary tissue revealed elevated concentrations of corpora amylacea in alveolar lumina. Morphologic relationships between amyloid bodies, macrophages, and multinucleate giant cells (MGCs) suggested phagocytosis and degradation of the deposits by the phagocytic cells. Resorption of amyloid material by macrophages and MGCs during the process of mammary involution may be instrumental in preventing accumulation of corpora amylacea in secretory tissue which may interfere with mechanisms of milk synthesis and secretion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnold JC, Weber AF (1977) Occurrence and fate of corpora amylacea in the bovine udder. Am J Vet Res 38:879–881
Brooker BE (1978) The origin, structure and occurrence of corpora amylacea in the bovine mammary gland and in milk. Cell Tissue Res 191:525–538
Chambers TJ (1978) Multinucleate giant cells J Pathol 126:125–148
Glenner GC, Page DL (1976) Amyloid, amyloidosis and amyloidogenesis. Int Rev Exp Pathol 15:1–91
Gruys E (1975) Ultrastructural and enzyme histochemical aspects of amyloidosis in the bovine renal medulla. Vet Pathol 12:94–110
Janigan DT (1965) Experimental amyloidosis. Studies with a modified casein method, casein hydrolysate and gelatin. Am J Pathol 47:159–171
Kuiken JR, Hill DL, Lundquist NS (1956) A hyalin-fibrin complex in the bovine mammary gland. J Dairy Sci 39:1299–1303
Lokvancic H, Dzuivic A, Mahdi AK (1979) Difficult milking due to amyloid bodies, and its relationship to mastitis. Veterinarski Glasnik 33:443–450
Lomakina DM (1982) Lacteal calculi. Veterinariya Moscow, USSR 3:48–49
Mariano M, Spector WG (1974) The formation and properties of macrophage polykaryons (inflammatory giant cells). J Pathol 113:1–19
McFadyean J (1930) The corpora amylacea of the mammary gland of the cow. J Comp Pathol Ther 43:291–300
Murch AR, Grounds MD, Marshall CA, Papadimitriou JM (1982) Direct evidence that inflammatory multinucleate giant cells form by fusion. J Pathol 137:177–180
Nickerson SC, Pankey JW (1984) Neutrophil migration through teat and tissue of bovine mammary quarters experimentally challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. J Dairy Sci 67:826–834
Nickerson SC, Sordillo LM, Boddie NT, Saxton AM (1984) Prevalence and ultrastructural characteristics of bovine mammary corpora amylacea. J Dairy Sci (in press)
Polliack A, Laufer A, Tal C (1970) Studies on the resorption of experimental amyloidosis. Brit J Exp Pathol 51:236–741
Reid IM (1972) Corpora amylacea of the bovine mammary gland. Histochemical and electron microscopic evidence for their amyloid nature. J Comp Pathol 82:409–413
Richter G (1954) The resorption of amyloid under experimental conditions. Am J Pathol 30:239–261
Shirahama T, Cohen AS (1971) Lysosomal breakdown of amyloid fibrils by macrophages. Am J Pathol 63:463–485
Williams GT, Williams WJ (1983) Granulomatous inflammation — a review. J Clin Pathol 36:723–733
Wright JR, Ozedemir AI, Matsuzaki M, Binette P, Calkins E (1972) Amyloid resorption: Possible role of multinucleated giant cells. The apparent failure of penicillamine treatment. Johns Hopkins Med J 130:278–288
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nickerson, S.C., Sordillo, L.M. Role of macrophages and multinucleate giant cells in the resorption of corpora amylacea in the involuting bovine mammary gland. Cell Tissue Res. 240, 397–401 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222352
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222352