超薄切片による肺胞マクロファージ内結核菌の電顕的観察

抄録

Mice were infected by iv infection with a virulent strain of Mycobacterium bovis, Ravenel R-KM strain, to prepare specimens for electron microscopical observation of their intracellular morphology. Observation was made with ultra-thin sections of the lungs at an advanced stage of infection. A typical picture of alveolar macrophage was obtained which was locating within the exudate-filled alveolar space and ingested several mycobacteria. The macrophage was sitting on the epithelial surface, adjacent to Type 1 and Type 2 epithelial cells, and extending actively pseudopods into the exudate. In some other occasions, the cytoplasm of infected macrophages was injured as evidenced by the marked swelling of their mitochondria. When the intracellular mycobacteria were morphologically intact, their cell wall layers, nuclear materials, electron-dense small granules, lipoidal inclusions and intracellular membrane structures were observed.