title: Electron microscopic and histochemical studies of the mononuclear osteoclast of the mouse.
abstract: Osteoclasts collected from the long bones of mice were cultured on dentin slices. To identify osteoclasts, the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACPase) activity of cultured cells was histochemically examined by the azo dye method. The TRACPase-positive cells could be distinguished from other cells by light microscopy. The cells were sectioned by alternating semithin and ultrathin sections to observe their ultrastructure and three-dimensional structure. TRACPase activity was detected both in multi-nucleated osteoclasts and in mononuclear cells. Most of the mononuclear TRACPase-positive cells had features similar to preosteoclasts. A mononuclear TRACPase-positive cell was a ruffled border and clear zone was reconstructed three-dimensionally by NIKON COSMOZONE 2SA. The reconstruction showed that this cell possessed a large clear zone and small ruffled border. Under the ruffled border, no lacuna was apparent; but there was disruption of the dentin surface. The results suggest that this cell was a mononuclear osteoclast and that it might have been in the process of making a new lacuna.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Anatomy II, Hokkaido University School of Dentistry, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Domon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakita
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013644:Tartrates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013644:Tartrates; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; C029768:tartaric acid