Ultrastructural characterisation of the proliferative (stem?) cells within the parenchyma of the normal “resting” breast (original) (raw)

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Summary

In this study the proliferative (stem?) cells within the parenchyma of the normal “resting” breast were characterised by the ultrastructural examination of 60 mitotic cells. The parenchyma consists of epithelial and myoepithelial cells plus a few intraepithelial lymphocytes and macrophages. The majority of mitotic cells were randomly distributed throughout the lobules with a few present in ducts. In all cases the cells were identified as luminally positioned polarised epithelial cells. The proliferating cells had similar cytoplasmic features and were indistinguishable from adjacent interphase epithelial cells. No evidence was found for the division of subluminal epithelial or myoepithelial cells. These observations would be consistant with a single cell type giving rise to both epithelial and myoepithelial cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Electron Microscope Unit, Nuffield Department of Pathology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU, Oxford, Great Britain
   D. J. P. Ferguson

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1. D. J. P. Ferguson
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Ferguson, D.J.P. Ultrastructural characterisation of the proliferative (stem?) cells within the parenchyma of the normal “resting” breast.Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 407, 379–385 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709985

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• Accepted: 18 June 1985
• Issue Date: December 1985
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709985

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