ABSTRACT
The phagocytosis of opsonic chicken erythrocytes which were engulfed byMMC-1 cells was studied by means of transmission electron microscopy.After incu-bating chicken erythrocytes with the serum of rabbit-anti chicken antibody.MMC-1cells were surrounded by 1 to more than 10 opsonized erythrocytes.The EA rosetteswere formed.At first,opsonized erythrocytes attached to the MMC-1 cells in somepoints.At the site of interaction of opsonized erythrocytes with MMC-1 cells theelectron dense bands which were the specialization of the MMC-1 cell plasma mem-brane appeared.Then many projections of the erythrocytes were engulfed intoMMC-1 cells.When part of the erythrocyte was engulfed by macrophage,a collar-like structure arround the erythrocyte could be seen.Partially engulfed erythrocyteslooked like a dumbbell.The engulfed erythrocytes were irregular in shape.Thedensity of engulfed erythrocytes became faint gradually.The round ring with highelectron density appeared and enlarged in erythrocytes.It was shown that the opso-nized erythrocytes which formed EA rosettes were engulfed by MMC-1 phagocyte.After engulfing many erythrocytes,MMC-1 cells might degenerated or be engulfedby other MMC-1 cells.It was proved that Fc receptors presented on MMC-1 cells.Many mitochondria were easily found in MMC-1 cells,they were responsible forenergy supplies.Extruding of engulfed nuclei from macrophage could be seen too.It was shown that MMC-1 cells had the characteristics of macrophage and it wasestablished by cell fusion of phagocyte and thymoma cell.