POLYGONAL CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURES AND CRYSTALLINE AGGREGATES OF CYLINDRICAL PARTICLES IN HUMAN GLIOMA

Polygonal crystalline structures were evident in the cytoplasm of oligodendroglioma cells. They demonstrated a regular spacing of alternating dense and less dense layers oriented along one to three axes, and formed rectilinear or hexagonal arrays. The intersection of two or three axes occurred at angle of approximately 120 degrees. The periodicity averaged about 150 Å. The dense and less dense layers measured about 50 Å and 100 Å, respectively. Few of polygonal crystalline structures showed around 75 Å in periodicity. Crystalline aggregates of cylindrical particles were also visualized. The mean diameter of the individual particles was approximately 150 A. They were oriented mostly in hexagonal arrays in transverse sections, and curvilinear or rectilinear arrays in longitudinal sections. The anatomical approximation and continuity were evident between the polygonal crystalline structures and the cylindrical particles. It may be reasonably assumed that both of structures are closely correlated in process of formation. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.