Progenitor cells of the human erythroid and granulocytic cell lineages are characterized by the presence of several nucleoli. One of these nucleoli is larger and possesses more fibrillar centres than others. Such nucleolus is apparently dominant in respect of both size and main nucleolar function such as nucleolar-ribosomal RNA transcription. Such nucleolus is also visible in specimens using conventional visualization procedures, in contrast to smaller nucleoli. In the terminal differentiation nucleated stages of the erythroid and granulocytic development, dominant nucleoli apparently disappeared, since these cells mostly contained very small nucleoli of a similar size with one fibrillar centre. Thus, the easily visible dominant nucleoli appear to be useful markers of the progenitor cell state, such as proliferation, and differentiation potential.
- MeSH
- Cell Differentiation MeSH
- Cell Division MeSH
- Cell Nucleolus physiology ultrastructure MeSH
- Cell Nucleus ultrastructure MeSH
- Cell Lineage MeSH
- Erythroid Precursor Cells ultrastructure MeSH
- Granulocytes ultrastructure MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Granulocyte Precursor Cells ultrastructure MeSH
- RNA, Ribosomal metabolism MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
