HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF LEPROSY, ESPECIALLY THE MODE OF FORMATION OF LEPRA CELLS

Abstract

The routine staining, Masson's Methylgreen-Pyronin, PAS methods Lipsid staining (Sudan III, Sudnn Black, lipophanerosis) Nileblue sulfate, were applied to investigate the formation of lepra cells. The results revealed that lepra cells derive from fixed macrophages and monocytes. The phagocytosed bacilli and the cytoplasma underwent fatty degenerotion and neutral fat was discharged into blood.
These changes can be adequately divided into three stadia by the histochemical methods for fatty substances, 1) the leprosy bacilli are phagocytosed by histiocytes, 2) fatty degeneration is taking place and 3) neutral fat is produced and vacuoles are observed.