HeLa cells from conventional culture media have been studied in thin sections with the electron microscope; in many cases cells were examined in sets of sections cut in series. The fine structure of the cells is described including three unusual features not hitherto reported. It has been found that numerous cells contained rows of parallel smooth surfaced cisternae spaced about 150 mµ apart and communicating with rough surfaced elements of the endoplasmic reticulum. These cisternae resembled "annulate lamellae" but did not contain regular arrays of pores. In many cells an area of juxtanuclear cytoplasm was occupied by a membranous structure composed of closely applied pairs of narrow cisternae either arranged in concentric rings or else extending in several directions in a haphazard manner. Sparse particles were present on the outer membranes of each pair of cisternae. Communications between the double cisternae and other membrane-bounded structures were not observed. A small number of cells contained areas of cytoplasm devoid of organelles and filled with amorphous fuzzy material. The observations recorded are discussed.
Article|
June 01 1961
SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES OF FINE STRUCTURE OBSERVED IN HELA CELLS
M. A. Epstein
M. A. Epstein
From The Bland-Sutton Institute of Pathology, The Middlesex Hospital, London, England
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M. A. Epstein
From The Bland-Sutton Institute of Pathology, The Middlesex Hospital, London, England
Received:
February 03 1961
Copyright, 1961, by The Rockefeller Institute Press
1961
J Biophys and Biochem Cytol (1961) 10 (2): 153–162.
Article history
Received:
February 03 1961
Citation
M. A. Epstein; SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES OF FINE STRUCTURE OBSERVED IN HELA CELLS . J Biophys and Biochem Cytol 1 June 1961; 10 (2): 153–162. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.10.2.153
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