The lymphocyte of chronic lymphatic leukemia.I. Electron microscopy–onset

The peripheral lymphocytes from 6 patients with untreatd chronic lymphatic leukemia were studied by means of electron microscopy. They were compared to normal lymphocytes in linear and area mesurements, and in cellular characteristics by random selection of electron micrographs. Five of the leukemics were found to be the small cell type, and one was the large cell type the small cell-type lymphocyte showed decreased length, cytoplasmic and total cell area. It contained increased long endoplasmic reticulum sparsely to moderately lined with ribosomes the large cell-type lymphocyte revealed the greater linear and area measurements in regard to the total cell, nucleaus, and cytoplasm. A rare cell from the large cell type contained predominantly polyribosomes, a finding not observed in the small cell type or normals the ultrastructural findings are discussed in light of our present biochemical knowledge of the chronic lymphatic leukemic lymphocyte. A tentative hy-knowledge of the chronic lymphatic leukemic lymphocyte. A tentative hypothesis concerning the pathogenesis of the leukemic lymphocyte is presented.