The Mononucleosis Cell III. Electron Microscopy

The peripheral mononucleosis lymphocytes from eleven patients with infectious mononucleosis were studied by means of electron microscopy. They were compared to normal lymphocytes in linear and area measurements, and in cellular characteristics by random selection of electron micrographs. The mononucleosis lymphocyte showed significantly greater cell and cytoplasmic area, greater cell length, more nucleoli, polyribosomes and compound vacuoles, than the normal lymphocyte. These ultrastructural findings are discussed in the light of our present biochemical knowledge of the mononucleosis cell. A tentative hypothesis concerning the pathogenesis of the mononucleosis cell is presented.