Anitschkow myocytes or cardiac histiocytes in human hearts.
The caterpillar chromatin pattern of the nucleus in longitudinal section and owl-eye appearance in transverse section characterize the Anitschkow cell of Aschoff bodies in rheumatic heart disease. Determining whether it is of muscle origin or cardiac histiocyte has been a source of controversy for many years. In a study of fetal and neonatal hearts from humans, vesicular nuclei often displaying the Anitschkow chromatin pattern were the predominant cell type in the myocardium. Because a similar pattern was also observed in two cell types related to laryngeal cartilage and the neighbouring fibrous tissue in a six week old neonate, it was concluded that the Anitschkow chromatin pattern probably indicates cellular immaturity rather than any specific cell type.
Stehbens
W E
WE
Department of Pathology, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Zuccollo
J M
JM
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000473:pathology; D005333:Fetus; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007830:Larynx / Q000166:cytology; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D012215:Rheumatic Nodule / Q000473:pathology*
D002843:Chromatin