Summary
The whole heads of 6 days old rats were exposed to 150R of X-ray irradiation. The animals were sacrificed in a developmental sequence, and the tissue obtained from the cerebellum was prepared for electron microscopy. In the medullary layer of the cerebellum of normal animals resting macrophages could be identified. On the basis of the cytological criteria established in the control material transformation of resting macrophages into reactive macrophages was studied. They showed an increase in the cytoplasm, which acquired numerous vacuoles, and changes in the breakdown and distribution of the large clumps of heterochromatin in the nucleus. The former changes gave these cells a lattice-like appearance, and the latter changes an appearance identical to that of the reactive macrophages in the brains of the neonate animals and the reactive microglia in the adult brains. The transformed macrophages in the medullary layer were identified as gitter cells. Issues pertaining to the relationship between gitter cells, reactive phagocytic cells, and resting macrophages are discussed, and factors stimulating the resting macrophages are considered.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blakemore, W. F.: Microglial reactions following thermal necrosis of the rat cortex: An electron microscopic study. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)21, 11–22 (1972)
Cone, W.: Acute pathologic changes in neuroglia and in microglia. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chic.)20, 34–72 (1928)
Das, G. D.: Resting and reactive macrophages in the developing cerebellum: An experimental ultrastructural study. Virchows Arch. B Cell Path.20, 287–298 (1976)
Del Rio-Hortega, P.: Microglia. In: W. Penfield (ed.), Cytology and cellular pathology of the nervous system, vol. 2, p. 483–534. New York: Hafner Publ. Co. 1965 (reprint of 1932 edition)
Ferraro, A., Roizin, L.: Acute and chronic clinicopathologic varieties of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Trans. Amer. Neurol. Ass.76, 126–128 (1951)
Ferraro, A., Roizin, L.: Neuropathologic variations in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol.13, 60–89 (1954)
Gilman, R., Trowell, O. A.: The effect of radiation on the activity of reticuloendothelial cells in organ cultures of lymph node and thymus. Int. J. Radiat. Biol.9, 313–322 (1965)
Konigsmark, B. W., Sidman, R. L.: Origin of gitter cells in the mouse brain. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol.22, 327 (1962)
Markov, D. V., Dimova, R. N.: Ultrastructural alterations of rat brain microglial cells and pericytes after chronic lead poisoning. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)28, 25–35 (1974)
Mathews, M. A.: Microglia and reactive “M” cells of degenerating central nervous system: Does similar morphology and function imply a common origin? Cell Tiss. Res.148, 477–491 (1974)
Penfield, W.: Neuroglia and microglia. The interstitial tissue of the central nervous system. In: E. V. Cowdry (ed.), Special cytology, vol. III, p. 1447–1482. New York-London: Hafner Publ. Co. 1963 (reprint of 1932 edition)
Roizin, L., Helfand, M., Moore, J.: Disseminated, diffuse and transitional demyelination of the central nervous system. A clinico-pathologic study. J. nerv. ment. Dis.104, 1–50 (1946)
Russell, G. V.: The compound granular corpuscle or gitter cell: A review, together with notes on the origin of the phagocyte. Tex. Rep. Biol. Med.20, 338–351 (1962)
Stensaas, L. J., Gilson, B. C.: Ependymal and subependymal cells of the caudatopallial junction in the lateral ventricle of the neonatal rabbits. Z. Zellforsch.132, 297–322 (1972)
Torvik, A.: Phagocytosis of nerve cells during retrograde degeneration. An electron microscopic study. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol.31, 132–146 (1972)
Vernon-Roberts, B.: the macrophage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1972
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by N.I.H. Research Grants No. NS-08817-05 and CA-14650-01. Assistance of Mrs. Kunda Das is gratefully acknowledged.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Das, G.D. Gitter cells and their relationship to macrophages in the developing cerebellum. Virchows Arch. B Cell Path. 20, 299–305 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890348
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890348