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American Journal of Pathology, Vol 89, 105-118, Copyright © 1977 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

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Ultrastructural appearance and morphogenesis of renal glomerular hematoxylin bodies

AH Cohen and L Zamboni

The fine morphology of hematoxylin bodies--structures which, by light microscopy, are considered to be pathognomonic for systemic lupus erythematosus--is described in renal glomeruli. These bodies are highly pleomorphic and are predominantly of cellular origin. The nuclear components, which are responsible for the characteristic tinctorial properties, appear as aggregates of clumped chromatin and/or irregular masses of finely granular, moderately dense, lobulated material, generally enveloped by membranes. The cytoplasmic components consist of a multitude of vesicles, vacuoles, degenerating granules, and glycogen. Hematoxylin bodies are usually contained within the bounderies of mesangial cells. A transition from circulating leukocytes to typical hematoxylin bodies could be demonstrated. It is suggested that the changes in leukocytes which culminate in hematoxylin bodies are intiated by the action of antinuclear antibodies and also possibly by the ingestion of immune complexes. This proposed appearance and morphogenesis of hematoxylin bodies is in general agreement with a few previously published investigations on these structures and also with the in vitro counterpart, the lupus erythematosus (LE) cell.