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. 1974 Apr;75(1):45–60.

Selective Labilization of Specific Granules in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes by Phorbol Myristate Acetate

James G White, Richard D Estensen
PMCID: PMC1910822  PMID: 4133056

Abstract

The action of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the active principle of croton oil, on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) has been evaluated in this study. Small amounts of PMA caused the rapid development of vacuoles in neutrophils and the disappearance of specific granules. Histochemical and cytochemical studies revealed that alkaline phosphatase activity was transferred to vacuoles and disappeared from the cells, while myeloperoxidase activity remained associated with intact azurophilic lysosomes. Electron-dense tracers indicated that the vacuole membranes originated, at least in part, from the cell wall of the neutrophils. The results indicate that PMA stimulates events remarkably similar to those which take place when bacteria are engulfed by PMNs, except for the failure of azurophilic lysosomes to participate in PMA-induced vacuole formation. PMA appears to be the first chemical agent capable of inducing selective labilization of specific granules in the neutrophil.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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